ARMY  LIFE 


OF  AN 


ILLINOIS  SOLDIER 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


ARMY  LIFE  OF 
AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER 


Including  a  Day  by  Day  Record 

OF" 

Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea 


Letters  and  Diary  of  the  L-ate 
CHARLES   W.  WILLS 


Private  and  Sergeant  8th  Illinois  Infantry;  Lieutenant  and 

Battalion  Adjutant  7th  Illinois  Cavalry;  Captain, 

Major  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  103rd 

Illinois  Infantry. 


COMPILED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  HIS  SISTER 


Copyright  by  Mary  E.  Kellogg,  Washington,  D.  C. 


GLOBE    PRINTING    COMPANY 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


INTRODUCTION. 


To  his  surviving  comrades  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps 

these    letters    and    diary   of   their    former    fellow    soldier, 

CHARLES  W.  WILLS,  are  respectfully  dedicated.    They  do  not 

profess  to  be  a  history  of  the  war;  only  a  chronicle  of  events 

recorded  from  day  to  day  when  the  impressions  were  fresh 

&      and  vivid.     Some  opinions  are  expressed  which  time  after- 

>.       wards   modified  or  reversed.     Doubts  and   criticism  of  the 

2  strategy  of  the  commanding  generals  reflect  the  views  that 

3  prevailed  at  the  time  they  were  written,  and  show,  as  the 
writer   himself  says,   how   little   the  actual  fighting   soldiers 

5?        sometimes  knew  of  what  was  going  on  around  them.  Neverthe- 
<8       less  it  is  believed  that  the  story  of  courage,  endurance,  self- 
§       control  and  unflinching  patriotism  herein  told,  with  character- 
istic modesty  and  quaint  humor,  and  the  life-like  portrayal  of 
.      incidents  of  the  great  struggle  and  of  the  social  conditions  pre- 
O      vailing  in  the  Border  and  Seceding  States  during  the  contest 
)J»      will  be  found  of  interest  and  historic  value. 
•         CHARLES  WRIGHT  WILLS  was  born  in  Canton,  Fulton  County, 

M 

Illinois,  April  17,  1840,  of  Pennsylvania  parentage,  and  was 
^  educated  in  the  Canton  public  schools  and  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Bloomington,  Illinois.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
responding  to  the  first  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  three 
months'  volunteers,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Eighth  Illinois 


461.1.47 


0  INTRODUCTION. 

Infantry,  April  26th,  1861,  and  re-enlisted  for  three  years  at  the 
end  of  his  first  term  of  service.  Subsequently  he  was  commis- 
sioned First  Lieutenant  and  Battalion  Adjutant  of  the  Seventh 
Illinois  Cavalry.  When  by  order  of  the  War  Department  in 
1862  all  Battalion  Adjutants  were  mustered  out  of  service,  he 
returned  to  Canton,  raised  a  company  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  elected  its  Captain.  In  1863 
Major  General  Oglesby  appointed  him  upon  his  staff,  but  after 
a  brief  service  as  such,  he  gladly  returned  to  active  duty  with 
his  regiment,  and  on  the  resignation  of  Major  Willison,  was 
unanimously  chosen  to  succeed  him,  though  he  was  at  that  time 
the  youngest  Captain  in  the  regiment.  During  the  campaign  in 
the  Carolinas  he  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel,  but 
was  never  mustered.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  in 
Louisiana  and  engaged  in  sugar  planting.  He  died  on  his  plan- 
tation at  Jeannerette,  on  the  banks  of  Bayou  Teche,  Louisiana, 
March  24,  1883,  and  was  buried  at  Canton,  Illinois.  His 
widow  now  resides  in  Denver,  Colorado. 

Washington,  D.  C,  August  8,  1906. 


Army  Life  of  an  Illinois 
Soldier. 


i. 

April  28,  1861  to  January  30,  1862.  Full  private  in  the  8th  Illinois 
Infantry.  Early  days  of  drill,  expectancy  and  enthusiasm.  Traitors 
and  spies  in  camp.  Primitive  arms  and  equipment.  Rough  side  of 
camp  life.  False  alarms  of  threatened  defective  attacks.  Hospital 
service.  Whipping  and  hanging  of  Union  men  in  Missouri  and  Mem- 
phis. First  uniforms.  Reconnoitering  down  the  Mississippi.  River 
communication  with  the  South  cut  off.  Sleeping  on  cornstalks, 
cord  wood,  gates  and  rails  in  the  rain.  First  experience  in  tents. 
Scouting  in  search  of  a  fight.  Promoted  sergeant.  Learning  to 
confiscate  and  appropriate.  Acting  sheriff  of  court  martial.  En- 
trenching and  bridge  guarding.  Hunting  the  elusive  Jeff  Thomp- 
son. "Cramping"  live  stock  on  a  Rebel  plantation.  Taking  further 
liberties  with  Rebel  property.  Adverse  opinion  of  the  Belmont 
fight.  Log  houses  for  winter  quarters.  Skinned  "deer"  that  ate 
like  pork.  Heavy  muster  of  gunboats.  A  New  Year's  frolic  in 
camp.  Investigating  a  disloyal  regiment.  Murder  in  a  pirate's  den. 
Mismanaged  river  expedition.  Commissioned  first  lieutenant  of 
cavalry  and  appointed  battalion  adjutant. 

Cairo,  April  28,  '61. 

This  is  the  twilight  of  our  first  day  here.  We  started  from 
Peoria  last  Wednesday  at  n  a.  m.  amid  such  a  scene  as  I 
never  saw  before.  Shouting,  crying,  praying,  and  shaking 


8  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

hands  were  the  exercises.  Along  the  whole  line  from  Peoria 
to  Springfield,  from  every  house  we  had  cheers  and  waving 
of  handkerchiefs.  Got  to  Springfield  at  dark  and  marched  out 
to  Camp  Brick  (it  is  a  brickkiln)  by  moonlight.  Our  beds 
were  of  hay,  scattered  on  the  earthen  floor  of  the  dry  shed. 
We  had  to  sleep  very  close  together,  being  cramped  for  room. 
Our  eatables  are  bread,  bacon,  beef,  coffee,  beans,  rice,  po- 
tatoes and  sugar  and  molasses  and  pickles. 

I  had  to  quit  last  night  because  the  light  wouldn't  wait  for 
me.  Well,  we  stayed  at  Camp  Brick  until  Thursday  25th  in 
the  p.  m.,  when  we  were  marched  over  to  Camp  Yates  to  form 
a  regiment.  Ten  companies  of  us,  numbering  from  93  to  125 
men  in  each,  were  trimmed  down  to  77  rank  and  file,  each. 
This  created  considerable  dissatisfaction  and  made  a  deal  of 
very  wicked  swearing.  Some  of  the  men  who  were  turned 
out  of  our  company  threatened  to  shoot  our  captain,  but  he 
is  still  living.  After  we  were  trimmed  to  the  required  num- 
ber we  were  sworn  in  by  company  and  then  quartered  in 
Camp  Yates,  though  we  elected  our  officers  first.  You  will 
see  by  the  papers  who  they  are.  To  be  certain  I  will  put  them 
down:  Colonel,  Oglesby;  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Rhoads;  Major, 
Post;  Captain,  Denison;  First  Lieutenant,  Wetzel;  Second 
Lieutenant,  Probstein.  Our  quarters  are  the  old  cattle  stalls. 
Eight  men  are  allowed  the  same  room  that  one  cow  or  jackass 
had.  I  heard  Douglas  Thursday  night  and  cheered  him  for  the 
first  time  in  my  life.  Saturday  night  at  9  we  started  for  this 
place.  Flags  were  displayed  from  houses  the  whole  distance, 
and  the  feeling  seems  as  good  here  as  at  home.  Sixty  miles 
above  here,  at  the  Big  Muddy  bridge,  occurred  the  only  trouble 
the  boys  have  had  here.  A  lot  of  traitors  from  over  the  Ohio 
river  tried  to  burn  the  bridge  and  are  still  trying  to  do  it.  A 
company  of  Chicago  Zouaves  are  posted  there  with  a  6 125  field 
piece.  They  shot  at  fellows  spying  around  four  times  Saturday 
night.  We  are  more  afraid  of  ague  here  than  of  the  enemy. 
We  drink  no  liquors  and  keep  ourselves  as  cleanly  as  possible. 
There  are  3,000  of  us  here  and  we  think  we  can  hold  it  against 
15,000.  If  they  cut  the  levee  the  river  is  so  low  that  we  will  not 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  9 

be  flooded.  We  have  15  cannons  now  and  will  have  15  more 
to-day.  We  stop  every  boat  that  passes  and  take  off  all  pro- 
visions and  ammunition  and  clothing.  The  boys  are  allowed 
to  appropriate  what  clothing  they  need  from  that  which  is 
seized.  There  are  now  5,000  men  twenty  miles  below  here, 
at  Columbus,  Ky.,  who  intended  trying  to  take  this  spot,  but 
the  arrival  of  our  regiment  will,  it  is  thought,  stop  that  move- 
ment. It  is  well  worth  their  trouble  to  take  us  for  we  have 
thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  their  goods  here  which  are 
seized.  You  cannot  conceive  anything  like  the  feeling  that 
possesses  our  troops  here.  Although  about  half  of  us  are 
green,  raw  militia,  and  will  need  discipline  to  make  us  what 
we  should  be,  yet  to  a  man  they  all  pray  for  an  assault.  Ken- 
tucky, right  across  the  river,  is  as  strongly  for  secession  as 
Mississippi  can  be,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  we  will  be 
attacked  the  latter  part  of  this  week  if  no  more  troops  come. 

Our  quarters  here  are  much  the  same  as  at  Camp  Yates. 
The  shed  in  which  our  company  sleep  is  entirely  open  to  the 
south,  and  very  well  ventilated  otherwise.  It  is  quite  warm 
here  though,  and  we  all  go  in  our  shirt  sleeves  even  when  off 
duty.  The  trees  are  nearly  in  full  leaf  and  grain  is  up  eight 
or  nine  inches. 

If  any  boys  go  from  Canton,  they  should  have  a  pair  of 
woolen  undershirts,  ditto  drawers,  and  two  flannel  overshirts, 
woolen  stockings  (feet  don't  blister  as  quick  in  them)  and  a 
heavy  blanket  or  pair  of  light  ones.  Our  company  all  have 
a  revolver  (Colt)  and  knife  each.  Mine  were  given  to  me 
by  friends  in  Peoria. 

This  is  a  lovely  place — a  gorgeous  hole !  It  smells  just  like 
that  bottom  below  Dorrance's  mill,  and  will  breed  fever  and 
ague  enough  to  disable  all  the  men  in  this  state.  I  just  now 
hear  the  boys  saying  that  we  move  to-morrow  up  the  river 
to  form  a  battery  to  stop  a  move  expected  from  the  Rebels. 
We  can't  rely  on  any  of  these  rumors,  though.  The  boys 
are  shooting  at  marks  all  round  us  with  their  revolvers.  I 
shoot  about  as  well  as  any  of  them. 


IO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

George  Bestor,  Jr.,  sits  near  me  and  just  now  said  that  he 
saw  a  man  from  Memphis  this  morning,  who  said  that  they 
were  making  preparation  to  come  up  here  and  take  this  Point, 
relying  partly  on  the  disloyal  citizens  for  help.  They  will 
have  a  good  time  of  it. 

Cairo,  May  5,  1861,  Sunday,  n  a.  m. 

The  bells  are  just  ringing  for  church.  I  intended  going, 
but  it  is  such  hard  work  getting  out  of  camp  that  I  concluded 
to  postpone  it.  Anyway,  we  have  service  in  camp  this  p.  m. 
This  is  an  awful  lazy  life  we  lead  here.  Lying  down  on  our 
hay  constitutes  the  principal  part  of  the  work.  As  our  rou- 
tine might  be  of  interest  to  you,  I  will  give  it.  At  5  a.  m.  the 
reveille  is  sounded  by  a  drum  and  fife  for  each  regiment.  We 
arise,  fold  our  blankets  in  our  knapsacks  and  prepare  to  march. 
We  then  "fall  in,"  in  front  of  our  quarters  for  roll-call ;  after 
which  we  prepare  our  breakfast  and  at  the  "breakfast  call" 
(taps  of  the  drum  at  7)  we  commence  eating;  and  the  way 
we  do  eat  here  would  astonish  you.  At  9  a.  m.  we  fall  in  for 
company  drill.  This  lasts  one  hour.  Dinner  at  12.  Squad 
drill  from  i  to  3  and  supper  at  5  :3O.  At  6  p.  m.  the  whole 
regiment  is  called  out  for  parade.  This  is  merely  a  review  by 
the  colonel,  and  lasts  not  more  than  30  minutes  and  often  but 
15.  After  8  p.  m.  singing  and  loud  noises  are  stopped ;  at  9 :3O 
the  tattoo  is  beat  when  all  are  required  to  be  in  quarters,  and 
at  three  taps  at  10  p.  m.  all  lights  are  put  out,  and  we  leave 
things  to  the  sentries.  Our  company  of  77  men  is  divided  into 
six  messes  for  eating.  Each  mess  elects  a  captain,  and  he  is 
supreme,  as  far  as  cooking  and  eating  are  concerned.  Our 
company  is  considered  a  crack  one  here  and  we  have  had  the 
post  of  honor  assigned  us,  the  right  of  the  regiment,  near  the 
colors.  Our  commanders,  I  think,  are  anticipating  some  work 
here,  though  they  keep  their  own  counsels  very  closely.  They 
have  spies  out  in  all  directions,  down  as  far  as  Vicksburg.  I 
think  that  Bradley's  detective  police  of  Chicago  are  on  duty  in 
this  vicinity.  We  also  have  two  very  fleet  steamers  on  duty 
here  to  stop  boats  that  refuse  to  lay  to,  and  to  keep  a  lookout 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  II 

up  and  down  the  Mississippi  river.  Yesterday,  p.  m.,  I  noticed 
considerable  bustle  at  headquarters  which  are  in  full  view  of 
our  quarters,  and  at  dark  last  night  20  cartridges  were  dis- 
tributed to  each  man,  and  orders  given  to  reload  revolvers 
and  to  prepare  everything  for  marching  at  a  minute's  notice, 
and  to  sleep  with  our  pistols  and  knives  in  our  belts  around  us. 
That's  all  we  know  about  it  though.  We  were  not  aroused 
except  by  a  shot  at  about  2  this  morning.  I  heard  a  little 
while  ago  that  it  was  a  sentinel  shooting  at  some  fellow  scout- 
ing around.  The  Rebels  have  a  host  of  spies  in  town  but  I 
think  they  are  nearly  all  known  and  watched.  The  men  con- 
fidently expect  to  be  ordered  south  shortly.  Nothing  would 
suit  them  better.  I  honestly  believe  that  there  is  not  a  man 
in  our  company  that  would  sell  his  place  for  $100.  We  call 
the  camp  Fort  Defiance,  and  after  we  receive  a  little  more 
drilling  we  think  we  can  hold  it  against  almost  any  number. 
We  have  3,300  men  here  to-day,  but  will  have  one  more  regi- 
ment to-day  and  expect  still  more. 

We  are  pretty  well  supplied  with  news  here;  all  the  dailies 
are  offered  for  sale  in  camp,  but  we  are  so  far  out  of  the  way 
that  the  news  they  bring  is  two  days  old  before  we  get  them. 
Transcripts  and  Unions  are  sent  to  us  by  the  office  free.  I 
wish  you  would  send  me  the  Register  once  and  a  while,  and 
put  in  a  literary  paper  or  two,  for  we  have  considerable  time 
to  read.  We  have  a  barrel  of  ice  water  every  day.  Milk, 
cake  and  pies  are  peddled  round  camp,  and  I  indulge  in  milk 
considerably  at  five  cents  a  pint.  Everything  is  much  higher 
here  than  above.  Potatoes,  50  cents ;  corn,  60  cents,  etc.  It 
has  been  raining  like  blue  blazes  since  I  commenced  this,  and 
the  boys  are  scrambling  around  looking  for  dry  spots  on  the 
hay  and  trying  to  avoid  the  young  rivers  coming  in.  Almost 
all  are  reading  or  writing,  and  I  defy  anyone  to  find  75  men 
without  any  restraint,  paying  more  respect  to  the  Sabbath. 
We  have  not  had  a  sick  man  in  camp.  Several  of  the  boys,  most 
all  of  them  in  fact,  have  been  a  little  indisposed  from  changfc 
of  diet  and  water,  but  we  have  been  careful  and  are  now  all 
right.  There  are  25,  at  least,  of  us  writing  here,  all  lying  on 
our  backs.  I  have  my  paper  on  a  cartridge  box  on  my  knees. 


12  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Camp  Defiance,  May  n,  '61. 

We  have  been  seeing  and  feeling  the  roughest  side  of  camp 
life,  ever  since  my  last.  Rain  in  double-headed  torrents; 
lightning  that  will  kill  easily  at  five  miles ;  thundering  thunder ; 
and  wind  from  away  back.  But  the  mud  dries  like  water  on 
a  hot  brick,  and  six  hours  sun  makes  our  parade  ground  fit 
for  drill.  Afternoon  when  the  sun  is  out  its  hot  enough  to 
scorch  a  phoenix;  yesterday  we  drilled  from  i  to  3.  I  was 
almost  crisped,  and  some  of  the  boys  poured  a  pint  of  grease 
out  of  each  boot  after  we  finished.  Up  to  10  last  night  when 
I  went  to  sleep  it  was  still  boiling,  but  at  five  this  morning, 
when  we  got  up,  we  shivered  in  coat,  vest  and  blankets. 
Bully  climate!  And  then  the  way  that  the  rain  patters  down 
through  the  roof,  now  on  your  neck;  move  a  little  and  spat  it 
goes,  right  into  your  ear,  and  the  more  you  try  to  get  away 
from  it  the  more  you  get,  until  disgusted,  you  sit  up  and  see 
a  hundred  chaps  in  the  same  position.  A  good  deal  of  laugh- 
ing, mixed  with  a  few  swears  follows,  and  then  We  wrap  our 
heads  in  the  blankets,  straighten  out,  "let  her  rip."  I  never 
was  in  better  health,  have  gained  four  pounds  since  we  started, 
and  feel  stronger  and  more  lively  than  I  have  for  a  coon's  age. 
Health  generally  excellent  in  our  company,  because  we  are 
all  careful.  There  has  not  been  a  fight  yet  in  the  whole  camp. 
A  man  was  shot  dead  last  night  by  one  of  the  guards  by  ac- 
cident. We  have  a  fellow  in  the  guardhouse  whom  we  arrested 
a  couple  of  days  since  as  a  spy.  He  is  almost  crazy  with 
fear  for  his  future.  His  wife  is  here  and  has  seen  him.  His 
trial  comes  off  this  p.  m.  We  all  hope  that  he  will  be  hung, 
for  he  laid  forty  lashes  on  the  back  of  a  man  down  south  a 
few  weeks  since,  who  is  now  a  volunteer  in  our  camp.  The 
boys  would  hang  him  in  a  minute  but  for  the  officers. 

The  news  of  the  fuss  in  St.  Louis  has  just  reached  us.  We 
suppose  it  will  send  Missouri  kiting  out  of  the  Union.  Gen- 
eral Prentiss  has  some  information  (don't  know  what  it  is) 
that  makes  our  officers  inspect  our  arms  often  and  carefully. 
I  know  that  he  expects  a  devil  of  a  time  here  shortly,  and 
preparations  of  all  kinds  are  making  for  it. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  13 

The  boys  are  just  now  having  a  big  time  over  a  letter  in 
the  Transcript  of  the  loth,  signed  W.  K.  G.  Of  course  it  is 
a  bundle  of  lies.  We  have  given  nine  groans  and  three  tiger 
tails  for  the  writer  W.  K.  G.  A  man  just  from  Mobile  is  in 
camp  now.  He  landed  this  morning.  He  took  off  his  shirt 
and  showed  a  back  that  bore  marks  of  30  strokes.  They  laid 
him  across  a  wooden  bench  and  beat  him  with  a  paling.  His 
back  looks  harder  than  any  one  I  ever  saw.  He  says  that 
nine  men  were  hung  the  day  before  he  left,  good  citizens,  and 
men  whose  only  crime  was  loyalty  to  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment. They  would  not  volunteer  under  the  snake  flag. 
He  reports  1,500  men  at  Memphis,  a  few  at  Columbus,  only 
50  at  Mobile,  and  none  worth  mentioning  at  other  points.  A 
man  has  been  here  this  morning  from  20  miles  up  the  river 
in  Missouri.  He  wants  arms  for  four  companies  of  Union 
men  that  have  formed  there,  and  who  are  expecting  an  attack 
from  the  secessionists.  The  Union  men  have  but  20  shotguns 
now.  A  boat  came  up  yesterday  crowded  with  passengers. 
Looked  as  though  she  might  have  a  thousand  on  her.  All 
Northerners. 

One  of  the  boys  has  just  come  in  with  a  report  that  there 
are  "to  a  dead  certainty"  5,000  men  now  at  Columbus  (20 
miles  below)  who  have  just  arrived  this  morning.  They  are 
after  Cairo.  The  boys  are  all  rumor  proof,  though,  and  the 
above  didn't  get  a  comment.  One  of  the  boys  has  just  ex- 
pressed my  feelings  by  saying:  "I  don't  believe  anything,  only 
that  Cairo  is  a  damned  mud  hole."  I  have  not  stood  guard 
yet  a  minute.  Have  been  on  fatigue  duty  is  the  reason.  A 
general  order  was  given  last  night  for  every  man  to  bathe 
at  least  twice  a  week.  Most  of  us  do  it  every  day.  The  Ohio 
is  warm  enough  and  I  swim  every  night  now.  There  were 
over  2,000  of  us  in  at  once  last  night.  We  had  a  candy  pull- 
ing this  p.  m.  There  was  an  extra  gallon  in  to-day's  rations, 
and  we  boiled  it  and  had  a  gay  time.  Our  company  is,  I  be- 
lieve, the  orderly  one  here.  We  have  lots  of  beer  sent  us 
from  Peoria,  and  drink  a  half  barrel  a  day  while  it  lasts.  (Do 
those  two  statements  tally?) 


14  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Sunday,  May  I2th,  6  p.  m. 

Several  men  from  Alabama  arrived  here  to-day  with  their 
backs  beaten  blue.  We  caught  another  spy  last  night.  The 
drums  rolled  last  night  at  n  and  we  all  turned  out  in  the 
biggest,  dark  and  deepest  mud  you  ever  saw.  It  was 
a  mistake  of  the  drummer's.  Six  rockets  were  let  off  and  he 
thought  that  they  stood  for  an  attack  but  they  were  only  sig- 
nals for  steamboats.  We  thought  sure  we  were  attacked,  but 
the  boys  took  it  cool  as  could  be,  and  I  think  never  men  felt 
better  over  a  prospect  for  a  fight.  Two  hundred  troops  have 
landed  since  I  commenced  writing  this  time.  Just  now  the 
clouds  seem  to  be  within  100  yards  of  the  ground.  Prospect 
of  a  tremendous  storm.  I  am  writing  standing  up  in  ranks 
for  evening  roll  call. 

May  17,  1861. 

Sun  and  dust.  Hot  as  the  deuce.  Lots  of  drilling 

and  ditto  fun.  Suits  me  to  a  T.  Am  going  in  for  three  years 
as  quick  as  I  can.  All  chance  for  fight  is  given  up  here.  We 
are  getting  sharp.  We  trade  off  our  extra  fodder  for  pies, 
milk  and  good  things. 

It's  too  hot  to  write.    I  am  going  to  sleep. 

Cairo,  May  23,  1861. 

Lots  of  men  come  through  here  with  their  backs  blue  and 
bloody  from  beatings ;  and  nine  in  ten  of  them  got  their  marks 
in  Memphis.  A  man  from  St.  Louis  was  in  camp  a  few  days 
since  with  one-half  of  his  head  shaved,  one-half  of  a  heavy 
beard  taken  off,  two  teeth  knocked  out  and  his  lips  all  cut  with 
blows  from  a  club.  This  was  done  in  Memphis  the  day  be- 
fore I  saw  him.  My  health  continues  excellent.  Never  felt 
so  well,  and  think  that  care  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  preserve 
my  health  as  it  is.  I  can't  think  that  this  Illinois  climate  is 
mean  enough  to  give  a  fellow  the  chills,  after  it  has  raised 
him  as  well  as  it  has  me. 

I  never  enjoyed  anything  in  the  world  as  I  do  this  life,  and 
as  for  its  spoiling  me,  you'll  see  if  I  don't  come  out  a  better 
man  than  when  I  went  in. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  15 

We  'have  commenced  fortifying  this  Point.  One  company 
is  detailed  every  day  to  work  on  this.  It  is  said  that  it  will 
cost  three  million.  As  for  enlisting  for  three  years,  I  can't, 
or  rather  won't  say  now.  'Tis  a  sure  thing  that  as  long  as 
this  war  continues  I  will  not  be  satisfied  at  home,  and  if  I 
would  there  will  certainly  be  no  business.  There  is  no  use 
trying  to  coax  me  now  for  I  can't  tell  until  my  three  month's 
are  up.  Then,  if  I  feel  as  now,  I  shall  certainly  go  in  for  the 
war.  Our  company  gets  compliments  from  all  the  newspaper 
correspondents. 

The  whole  camp  is  aching  to  be  ordered  to  Memphis.  Bird's 
Point  is  not  occupied.  We  had  a  company  there  for  one  day 
but  withdrew  them. 

I  commenced  this  about  12  last  night  in  the  hospital,  but  I 
had  so  much  to  do  and  there  were  so  infernal  many  bugs  that 
I  concluded  to  postpone  it.  We  do  have  the  richest  assort- 
ment of  bugs  here  imaginable,  from  the  size  of  a  pin-head  up 
to  big  black  fellows  as  large  as  bats.  I  was  sitting  up  with  an 
old  schoolmate  from  Bloomington,  whose  company  have  gone 
up  to  Big  Muddy  and  left  him  to  the  tender  care  of  our  sur- 
geons. The  poor  devil  would  die  in  a  week  but  for  the  care 
he  gets  from  a  dozen  of  us  here  that  used  to  go  to  school  with 
him.  There  are  about  50  men  in  our  regiment's  hospital,  and 
save  the  few  that  go  up  to  care  for  their  friends  unasked,  the 
poor  fellows  have  no  attendance  nights.  I  gave  medicine  to 
four  beside  my  friend  last  night,  two  of  whom  are  crazy  with 
fever.  One  of  the  latter  insisted  on  getting  up  all  the  time, 
and  twice  he  got  down  stairs  while  I  was  attending  the  others. 
Not  one  of  our  company  is  there,  thank  heaven. 

Yesterday  our  company  with  the  whole  /th  Regiment  were 
at  work  on  the  fortifications.  Wheeling  dirt  and  mounting 
guns  was  the  exercise.  The  guns  we  mounted  are  36  pounders 
and  weigh  three  and  one-half  tons  each.  Our  regiment,  ex- 
cept this  company,  are  at  the  same  work  to-day.  To-morrow 
the  pth  works.  General  Prentiss  paid  us  a  very  handsome 
compliment  in  saying  that  our  company  did  more  work  than 
any  two  companies  have  yet  done  in  the  same  time.  You 


l6  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

should  see  our  hands.  Mine  are  covered  with  blisters.  You 
might  as  well  be  making  up  your  mind  to  the  fact  that  I  am 
not  coming  home  soon.  There  is  but  one  thing  in  the  way  to 
prevent  my  going  in  for  the  war.  That  is  the  talk  of  cutting 
off  the  heads  of  all  lieutenants  over  25  years  of  age,  and  of 
all  captains  over  35.  Now  under  that  arrangement  all  three 
of  our  officers  will  lose  their  heads,  and  we  know  we  cannot 
replace  them  with  as  good.  This  thing,  though  not  certain 
yet,  has  created  a  great  deal  of  excitement  in  camp,  and  if  it 
goes  into  effect  will  smash  our  company  completely.  Our 
company  is  the  best  officered  of  any  in  camp.  There  are  no 
two  sides  to  that  proposition. 

You'll  see  that  your  Canton  company  will  not  regret  the 
selection  of  officers  they  have  made.  The  companies  here 
with  inexperienced  officers  have  worlds  of  trouble,  and  five 
captains  and  one  lieutenant,  though  good  men  at  home,  have 
resigned  at  the  wish  of  their  companies.  Four  of  these  com- 
panies tried  to  get  our  first  lieutenant  for  captain,  but  he  won't 
leave  us.  The  thousand  men  who  occupied  Bird's  Point  the 
other  day  are  most  all  Germans ;  many  of  them  "Turners,"  and 
a  very  well  drilled  regiment.  They  will  get  their  cannons  from 
St.  Louis  next  week.  None  of  the  men  expect  an  attack  here, 
but  we  know  that  General  Prentiss  thinks  it  at  least  possible, 
and  from  his  actions  we  think  he  expects  it.  A  family  were 
in  camp  yesterday  who  were  driven  away  from  a  place  only 
12  miles  from  here  in  Missouri,  and  left  a  son  there  with  a 
bullet  through  his  brains.  It  happened  yesterday  morning. 
We  have  had  our  uniforms  about  a  week.  Gray  satinet  pants 
and  roundabout,  with  a  very  handsome  blue  cloth  cap.  Nine 
brass  buttons  up  the  jacket  front  and  grey  flannel  shirts.  We 
are  obliged  to  wash  dirty  clothes  the  day  we  change  and  to 
black  our  shoes  every  evening,  and  polish  our  buttons  for 
dress  parade.  Our  company  is  the  only  one  that  does  this 
though,  and  they  call  us  dandies.  We  have  done  more  work 
and  better  drilling  though,  than  any  of  them,  so  we  don't 
mind  it. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  I/ 

Cairo,  June  9,  1861. 

I  have  been  over  to  Bird's  Point  this  morning  for  the  first 
time.  They  have  thrown  up  breastworks  and  dug  a  deep 
ditch  outside  of  them,  making  a  pretty  strong  camp.  We 
don't  apprehend  a  shade  of  a  fuss  here  but  the  officers  are 
making  as  much  preparation  as  if  a  Waterloo  No.  2  were 
coming.  I  went  to  old  Bird's  house  this  morning.  It  is  just 
like  the  pictures  we  have  seen  in  Harper's  of  southern  plant- 
ers' homes.  A  wide,  railed  porch  extends  around  two  sides  of 
the  house  from  the  floor  of  each  story.  On  the  lower  porch 
sat  Bird  and  his  family  talking  with  a  number  of  officers  and 
their  ladies.  Looked  very  pleasant.  Back  of  the  house  were 
the  quarters  filled  with  46  of  the  ugliest,  dirtiest  niggers  I  ever 
saw,  dressed  in  dirty  white  cotton.  Awful  nasty !  The  soldiers 
at  the  point  have  plenty  of  shade.  We  have  but  one  tree  on 
our  grounds.  The  boys  took  a  lot  of  ammunition  from  Bird 
the  other  day,  and  also  another  lot  from  a  nest  five  miles  back 
in  Missouri.  It  was  all  given  back,  however,  as  private  prop- 
erty. Our  whole  brigade  of  six  regiments  had  a  parade  yes- 
terday. We  are  all  uniformed  now  and  I  think  we  made  a 
respectable  appearance.  The  general  gave  us  a  special  notice. 
Are  the  Canton  boys  going  or  not?  Do  they  drill?  We  have 
been  sleeping  on  hay  up  to  this  week,  but  have  thrown  it  away, 
and  now  have  but  the  bare  boards.  The  change  has  been  so 
gradual  from  featherbed  at  home  to  plank  here  that  I  can't 
think  where  it  troubled  me  the  least.  I  had  a  mattress  in 
Peoria,  straw  in  Springfield,  and  hay  here.  Our  living  is  now 
very  good.  Fresh  beef  every  day,  potatoes,  rice  and  beans. 

Cairo,  June  13,  1861. 

I  am  converted  to  the  belief  that  Cairo  is  not  such  a  bad 
place  after  all.  The  record  shows  that  less  deaths  have  oc- 
curred here  in  seven  weeks  among  3,000  men,  than  in  Villa 
Ridge  (a  higher,  and  much  dryer  place  with  abundant  shade 
and  spring  water),  in  five  weeks  among  1,000.  There  has 
been  but  one  death  here  by  disease  in  that  time,  and  that  with 
miserable  hospital  accommodations.  The  soldiers  lie  like  the 


1 8  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

d — : — 1  about  Cairo.  The  days  are  hot  of  course,  but  we  do 
nothing  now  between  8  a.  m.  and  9  p.  m.  but  cook  and  eat, 
so  that  amounts  to  not  near  as  much  as  working  all  day  at 
home.  The  mosquitoes  and  bugs  are  furious  from  6  p.  m.  to 
n,  but  we  are  drilling  from  7  p.  m.  to  nearly  9,  and  from  that 
to  ii  we  save  ourselves  by  smoking,  which  we  all  do  pretty 
steadily.  The  nights  after  n  are  splendidly  cool,  so  much  so 
that  we  can  cover  ourselves  entirely  in  our  blankets,  which 
is  a  block  game  on  the  mosquitoes,  and  sleep  like  logs.  I  be- 
lieve those  Camp  Mather  boys  are  hard  sticks  from  the  ac- 
counts we  get  of  their  fingers  sticking  to  chickens,  vegetables, 
etc.  The  citizens  here  say  that  the  boys  have  not  taken  a  thing 
without  permission,  or  insulted  a  citizen.  "Bully  for  us." 

We  had  a  little  fun  yesterday.  At  8  p.  m.  we  (the  Peoria 
and  Pekin  companies)  were  ordered  to  get  ready  for  march- 
ing in  ten  minutes.  So  ready  we  got  (but  had  to  leave  knap- 
sacks, canteens  and  blankets)  and  were  marched  down  to  the 
"City  of  Alton,"  which  had  on  board  a  six  pounder  and  one 
12  pound  howitzer.  We  cast  off,  fired  a  salute  of  two  guns 
and  steamed  down  the  Mississippi.  After  five  miles  the 
colonel  (Oglesby)  called  us  together,  told  us  that  he  was  out 
on  a  reconoitering  expedition,  and  his  information  led  him  to 
think  we  should  be  forced  into  a  little  fight  before  we  got 
back.  We  were  then  ordered  to  load  and  keep  in  our  places 
by  our  guns.  At  Columbus  we  saw  a  secesh  flag  waving  but 
passed  on  a  couple  of  miles  farther  where  he  expected  to  find 
a  secesh  force.  Failed  and  turned  back.  At  Columbus  the 
flag  was  still  waving  and  the  stores  all  closed,  and  quite  a 
crowd  collected  on  the  levee,  but  one  gun  though,  that  we 
could  see.  The  colonel  ordered  the  flag  down.  They  said 
they  wouldn't  do  it.  He  said  he  would  do  it  himself  then. 
They  answered,  "We'd  like  to  see  you  try  it."  We  were  drawn 
up  then  round  the  cabin  deck  guards  next  the  shore  in  two 
ranks,  with  guns  at  "ready,"  and  the  captain  jumped  ashore 
and  hauled  down  the  serpent.  We  were  all  sure  of  a  skirmish 
but  missed  it.  Flag  was  about  15x7,  with  eight  stars  and 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  19 

three  stripes.  I  send  you  some  scraps  of  it.  They  raised 
another  flag  one  hour  after  we  left  and  sent  us  word  to  "Come 
and  take  it."  The  ride  on  the  river  was  the  best  treat  I've  had 
for  two  years. 

Cairo,  June  23,  1861. 

Camp  is  very  dull  now,  and  we  are  more  closely  confined 
in  it  than  ever.  Not  a  soldier  goes  out  now  except  in 
company  with  a  commissioned  officer  or  on  a  pass  from  the 
general.  The  latter  not  one  in  a  thousand  can  get  and  the 
former  maybe  one  in  five  hundred. 

We  have  no  drilling  now  between  8  a.  m.  and  7  p.  m. 
on  account  of  the  heat;  so  we  have  plenty  of  spare  time. 
If  I  only  had  some  good  books !  But  I  can't  send  for 
them  now  for  our  colonel  keeps  us  about  half  excited  all 
the  time  with  a  prospect  of  a  move.  He  says  we  have  two 
chances:  First,  if  General  McClellan  suffers  anything  like 
a  serious  repulse  in  Western  Virginia,  our  whole  brigade 
will  move  out  on  two  hours'  notice.  Second,  if  any  reliable 
reports  come  of  Arkansas  troops  moving  into  Missouri, 
we  will  double  quick  over  the  river  and  leave  the  Point  to 
some  other  troops.  The  last  is  the  most  likely  chance. 
A  thousand  of  our  boys  went  off  on  the  "City  of  Alton"  at 
dark  last  night.  We  don't  know  where  to,  but  'tis  rumored 
that  they  went  up  the  Mississippi  25  miles  and  then  marched 
back  into  Missouri  30  miles  to  intercept  a  train  of  wagons 
loaded  with  provisions  going  south.  The  colonel  made 
them  a  speech ;  told  them  they  were  sure  to  have  a  brush 
and  asked  them  if  they  would  sustain  the  credit  of  the  8th. 
You  should  have  heard  them  shout !  Only  two  companies 
went  from  our  regiment  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Rhoads. 
The  Battallion  was  under  Colonel  Morgan.  The  three 
year  question  causes  more  excitement  than  every  thing 
else  now.  Nearly  our  whole  company  will  go.  The  most 
worthless  fellows  are  the  ones  that  will  go  home.  I  feel 
as  if  my  place  is  here.  I  know  I  could  not  content  myself 
at  home,  and  if  I  could,  every  young  man  with  no  one 


2O  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

depending  upon  him  is  needed  in  the  army  more  than 
anywhere  else.  I  know  I  have  your  approval  in  this  re- 
solve, but  I  would  like  to  have  you  tell  me  so.  The  Ameri- 
cans in  our  company  think  some  of  seceding,  filling  up 
from  home  with  American  boys  and  letting  the  Dutch  now 
in  the  company  paddle  their  own  canoe.  I  wonder  if  we 
could  not  get  a  dozen  good  strong  fellows  from  Canton. 
We  don't  want  any  poorer  men  than  I  am,  for  we  are  going 
to  make  a  crack  company. 

Cairo,  July  i,  1861. 

Writing  letters  is  getting  to  be  harder  work  than  drilling, 
and  is  more  dreaded  by  the  boys.  Lots  of  people  are 
visiting  the  camp  now,  many  of  them  ladies,  but  I  tell  you 
that  they  use  their  fans  more  than  their  spy-glasses  after  a 
very  few  looks. 

I  was  up  to  Mound  City  yesterday  with  nine  others  of 
our  company  on  a  United  States  boat  that  has  three  can- 
nons on  her.  Mound  City  is  a  beautiful  little  place,  and 
takes  it  name  from  a  mound  about  30  feet  in  diameter  and 
10  feet  high,  on  which  grow  a  dozen  spindling  locusts.  I 
have  been  about  12  miles  up  each  river  from  the  point  here. 
At  that  distance  the  river  banks  are,  say  25  feet  high,  and 
slope  down  to  the  point,  and  run  into  a  broad  wide  sandbar 
that  ends  Illinois. 

Fishing  is  a  principal  amusement  or  time-killer  now.  I 
have  fished  about  four  days  and  caught  nary  a  "minner." 

There  is  no  outside  influence  used  to  induce  a  man  to 
re-enlist.  Officers  tell  every  man  to  use  his  own  judgment, 
and  each  fellow  does  his  own  thinking  and — another  long 
dash  or  words  to  that  effect. 

Cairo,  July  27,  1861 

We  number  now  about  60  and  have  25  days  in  which  to 
fill  up  to  100.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  of  our  regiment  of 
three-months'  men  have  re-enlisted.  Two  hundred  and 
fifty  out  of  680,  which  is  considerably  better  than  any 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  21 

eastern  regiment  that  I  have  seen  mentioned.  There  was 
not  a  sick  man  in  our  company  when  we  returned,  and 
there  is  not  now.  One  of  the  boys  just  tells  me  that 
day  before  yesterday  morning  there  were  but  eight  in 
the  regiment  hospital.  Three  men  from  our  regiment 
have  died  in  three  and  a  half  months.  One  of  these  I 
know  killed  himself  with  imprudence.  I  have  telegraphed 
to  the  boys  to  be  in  Peoria  Wednesday.  I  have  not  the 
least  idea  that  any  of  them  will  back  out.  It  does  seem 
real  good  to  be  back  here  again  where  a  fellow  can  swing 
himself  and  lay  around  loose  with  sleeves  up,  collar  open, 
(or  shirt  off  if  it  suits  him  better)  hair  unkempt,  face 
unwashed  and  everything  un-anything.  It  beats  clerking 
ever  so  much !  We  were  paid  off  yesterday.  The  privates 
received  $56.72  each  in  gold,  silver  and  copper,  which  is 
$24.00  more  than  we  expected. 

We  are  having  some  more  excitement  in  camp  to-day. 
A  rumored  attack  in  prospect  on  Bird's  Point  is  the  sub- 
ject. We  are  putting  the  recruits  through  in  two-forty- 
style  to  get  them  ready.  Twenty  rounds  of  cartridges  were 
served  to  us  at  noon  to-day,  and  Prentiss'  aids  are  gal- 
loping round  as  if  tight.  About  one  quarter  of  the  recruits 
have  their  accoutrements  on,  and  some  of  them  scoot  up 
on  the  levee  every  ten  minutes  to  look  at  the  Point.  We 
have  all  kinds  of  rumors  of  from  2,000  to  15,000  Rebels 
within  from  6  to  15  miles  of  us,  but  if  20  preachers  would 
swear  to  the  truth,  there's  not  one  man  that  has  been  here 
three  months  would  believe  it.  Been  fooled  too  often ! 
Our  officers  are  careful  though,  and  treat  every  thing  from 
head-quarters  as  reliable  till  the  contrary  is  proven. 

It  is  a  horrid  trip  from  Peoria  to  Cairo  as  the  trains  run 
now.  We  laid  over  three  hours  in  El  Paso,  and  eleven 
hours  in  Centralia;  from  n  p.  m.  till  10  a.  m.  Awful!  and 
rode  down  from  Centralia  in  an  accommodation  freight. 
The  bed  was  excellent  at  home,  but  I  think  that  sleeping 
on  boards  rests  me  better  and  I  know  I  sleep  sounder. 


22  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Have  worked  two  hours  hard  at  cleaning  up  quarters  and 
eating  supper  since  my  last  period.  Supper  consisted  of 
coffee,  bread  and  butter,  and  cold  steak  pickled  in  vinegar. 
Vinegar  is  a  great  improvement  on  cold  beef,  I  wonder  you 
never  adopted  it.  We  have  a  prime  lot  of  boys  this  time. 
There  are  not  ten  out  of  the  whole  company  that  I  would 
not  like  to  have  for  associates  at  home.  I  don't  believe 
that  one  of  them  will  ever  take  quarters  in  the  guard-house. 

I  think  our  company  will  be  full  in  ten  days.  We  have  re- 
fused lots  of  roughs  here  in  camp  also  in  Peoria,  but  three  or 
four  little  ones  have  crept  in  through  acquaintances'  influence. 
Those  men  we  have  will  learn  to  drill  in  half  less  time  than 
any  other  lot  of  recruits  on  the  ground,  because  they  have  a 
pride  in  their  appearance  and  dress,  and  that  has  given 
them  a  better  carriage  and  command  of  themselves  than 
rougher  customers  have. 

We  will  have  in  a  few  days  nothing  but  new  recruits  here  ex- 
cept the  fractions  of  regiments  that  have  re-enlisted ;  the  loth, 
which  calls  itself  the  crack  regiment  of  the  post,  will  all  leave 
for  home  day  after  to-morrow.  If  it  does  not  come  back  full 
in  30  days  it  will  be  disbanded.  This  is  Prentiss'  old  regiment. 

Tattoo  9  p.  m. — They  are  really  expecting  an  attack  on 
Bird's  Point,  and  we  will  all  be  kept  close  in  quarters  evenings 
after  sunset  till  the  scare  dies  away.  One  of  our  boys  that 
stood  guard  at  the  hospital  this  morning  says  the  surgeon 
told  him  that  the  sick  would  be  brought  from  the  Point  to 
Cairo  to-day.  Don't  know  whether  they  did  it  or  not. 

We  were  coming  on  the  cars  when  we  heard  of  the  Manas- 
sas  rout.  The  boys  gave  three  cheers,  for  they  imagined  it 
would  bring  us  marching  orders.  I  would  like  very  much  to 
hear  such  orders,  but  would  a  devilish  sight  rather  march 
with  men  that  have  had  three  months'  drill  than  with  these 
new  recruits.  You  can't  imagine  what  a  difference  there  is 
in  one's  confidence  in  a  drilled  and  undrilled  company  of 
men.  Don't  say  anything  about  our  expectations  of  an 
attack  here  for  there  has  been  a  great  deal  too  much  said 
already  on  going-to-be  attacks  on  this  Point 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  23 

We  pay  five  cents  a  pint  here  for  milk,  and  I  found  a 
wiggler  in  a  pint  this  morning.  Don't  you  think  they  ought 
to  mix  clean  water  with  the  cow  juice? 

Sunday,  I  p.  m. — I  have  just  woke  up  from  a  two  hours' 
sleep  that  had  more  dreams  than  all  the  sleeping  I  ever  did 
before.  I  dreamed  everything  from  being  a  partner  of  Adam 
and  Eve  in  their  orchard  down  to  seeing  Stephens'  iron 
battery. 

Cairo,  August  2,  1861. 

Hot !  You  don't  know  what  that  word  means.  I  feel  that 
I  have  always  been  ignorant  of  its  true  meaning  till  this  week, 
but  am  posted  now,  sure.  The  (supposed-to-be)  "never  fail- 
ing cool,  delicious  breeze"  that  I  have  talked  about  so  much, 
seems  to  be  at  "parade  rest"  now  and — I  can't  do  justice  to 
the  subject.  The  health  of  the  camp  is  much  better  now  than 
at  any  time  before,  since  we  have  been  here.  There  is  not  a 
sick  man  in  our  company.  My  health  remains  gorgeous.  We 
drill  now  five  hour's  a  day,  under  a  sun  that  cooks  eggs  in  13 
minutes,  but  we  think  we  feel  the  heat  no  more  walking  than 
lying  around  the  quarters. 

The  seceshers  this  morning  took  the  packet  that  has  been 
plying  between  here  and  Columbus,  and  have  run  her  off  down 
to  Memphis.  I  thought  that  Prentiss  stopped  her  sometime 
since,  but  this  at  last  closes  all  communication  between  the 
North  and  South  at  this  point.  Our  "ossifers"  we  think  are 
really  scared  about  an  attack  here,  but  you  could  not  make 
the  soldiers  believe  in  the  like  till  they  see  the  fight  begin. 
About  a  thousand  of  our  men  were  rushed  off  to  Bird's  Point 
to-day  to  work  on  intrenchments,  and  won't  they  sweat? 

My  chum  heard  Colonel  Oglesby  tell  an  officer  two  hours  ago 
that  there  were  17,000  Rebels  within  15  miles  of  the  Point. 
The  scouts  reported  this  body  at  New  Madrid,  40  mfles  down 
the  Mississippi,  two  days  since.  Yesterday  12  men  from  the 
Pekin  company  and  12  from  our's  with  some  artillerymen 
went  30  miles  up  the  Mississippi  to  collect  all  the  boats  we 


24  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

could  find  on  the  Missouri  shore.  We  found  three  large  flats 
tied  up  to  trees  along  the  shore  which  we  confiscated.  One  of 
them  wasn't  very  good  so  we  sunk  it.  The  object  was  to 
prevent  marauders  from  visiting  Illinois.  I  had  charge  of 
the  men  from  our  company. 

Cairo,  August  11,  '61. 

Our  Canton  boys  came  down  on  time,  and  right  glad  I  am 
to  have  them  here.  Colonel  Ross's  i/th  Regiment  got  here 
the  same  day  by  the  river.  The  boys  were  sworn  into  our 
company  the  day  after  they  arrived,  and  the  day  following  a 
lieutenant  in  the  Fulton  Blues  came  over  to  get  them  to  join 
his  company.  I  am  glad  he  was  too  late.  We  have  all  been 
over  to  the  Point  to  visit  the  Canton  boys  of  the  i/th,  and 
found  them  looking  very  well.  Will  Trites,  alone,  looks  unwell. 
A  few  weeks  at  home  is  what  he  really  needs,  for  he  will  not 
give  up  work  and  go  on  the  sick  list  as  he  ought  to,  as  long 
as  he  can  stand.  Billy  Stockdale,  Chancey  Black,  George 
Shine,  Billy  Resor  and  Jesse  Beeson  are  in  No.  I  condition. 
Their  tents  are  pitched  in  old  Bird's  cornfield  from  which  the 
corn  has  just  been  cut  and  you  can  imagine  that  the  stubble  is 
not  equal  to  feathers  to  lie  upon.  They  call  us  boys  that  live 
in  barracks  in  Cairo,  Sunday  soldiers  and  Fourth  of  July 
braves ;  the  same  names  we  applied  to  them  when  they  were 
in  Camp  Mather.  The  Canton  boys  in  our  company  get  along 
finely.  They  are  in  the  best  of  spirits  and  already  appear  quite 
soldierly.  They  are  well  satisfied  with  the  company  which 
now  numbers  90  men  and  will  be  full  this  week.  We  all  room 
together  except  John  Wallace  and  Milo  Farewell.  We  are 
now  drilling  about  six  hours  a  day,  but  the  greenhorns  act  as 
though  they  think  it  fun.  We  don't  suffer  from  the  heat  as 
much  as  one  would  think,  and  can  you  believe  it  the  health  of 
the  camp  is  better  now  than  ever  before.  We  have  not  in  our 
company  a  man  on  the  sick  list.  Major  Smith  (our  old  friend 
Marion),  says  that  the  I7th  have  been  healthier  at  Bird's  Point 
than  they  ever  were  before;  and  so  every  regiment  says  that 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  25 

comes  here.  If  there  are  any  very  old  people  in  Canton  that 
want  to  live  50  or  60  years  longer,  advise  them  to  come  to 
Cairo.  Mosquitoes  and  fleas  are  around  these  times.  The 
whole  family  are  here. 

Cairo,  August  19,  1861. 

The  boys  are  writing  to-day  for  some  butter  and  things 
from  home.  The  expense  by  express  from  Peoria  is  not  worth 
speaking  of  and  the  other  boys  have  things  sent  them  often. 
We  have  made  up  our  minds  to  lying  here  six  weeks  longer  at 
least,  and  conclude  that  time  will  pass  better  with  a  few  home 
extras  to  grace  our  table. 

Cairo,  September  i,   1861. 

We  had  blankets  given  us  this  last  week  and  new  accoutre- 
ments throughout.  If  they  would  only  change  our  guns  now 
we  would  have  nothing  but  a  move  to  ask  for.  A  uniform  was 
also  furnished  us  last  week.  It  is  of  excellent  all-wool  goods, 
and  not  so  heavy  as  to  be  uncomfortable.  The  color  is  very 
fine  grey,  the  pants  are  fashionably  cut  and  equal  to  such  as 
would  cost  six  dollars  in  Peoria.  The  coats  have  short  skirts 
and  are  rather  fancifully  trimmed  with  blue.  It  is  much  the 
best  uniform  I  have  seen  yet,  although  it  costs  but  $13.  We 
will  have  a  fatigue  suit  shortly.  Yesterday  we  were  mustered 
for  pay.  We  will  get  our  first  month's  wages  this  week  "they 
say."  There  are  wagons  and  mules  here  now  by  the  hundreds, 
and  when  our  tents  are  ready  (they  are  here  now)  we  will  be 
ready  to  move.  I  think  there  must  be  near  10,000  men  here 
now.  Logan's,  Pugh's,  Buford's,  and  another's  regiment; 
Hick's  and  Raritan's  came  in  last  week.  The  first  three  be- 
long to  McCormick's  Brigade.  General  McClernand  is  here 
now.  Every  one  thinks  we  will  move  in  a  very  few  days.  I 
kind  o'  feel  it  in  my  bones,  too,  but  it  is  too  good  to  be  true, 
so  I'm  taking  all  the  bets  I  can  from  10  cents  worth  of  peanuts 
to  a  half  bushel  of  apples,  I  betting  that  we  are  here  two 
weeks  from  now.  I've  got  them  any  way,  for  if  we  move,  I 
hope  to  be  able  to  borrow  apples,  etc.,  from  the  seceshers  to 


26  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

pay  my  little  bills,  and  if  I  stay  here  I'll  have  some  eatables  free 
for  consolation.  W«  Canton  boys  have  hired  a  cook  for  our- 
selves and  are  living  much  better  than  I  ever  did  before  in 
camp. 

Our  cook  is  a  jewel,  and  by  trading  off  rations  keeps  us  in 
clover  all  the  time.  He  sets  a  better  table  for  us  than  the 
Peoria  house  boarders  eat  from,  honestly.  An  old  schoolmate 
of  mine  in  our  mess  furnishes  us  with  milk.  He  and  John 
Wallace  go  out  every  night  about  2  or  3  o'clock  and — some- 
body's cow  don't  milk  well  next  morning.  We'll  never  have 
such  times  sojering  again>  but  you  can't  imagine  how  we  do 
want  to  get  over  into  Missouri  or  Arkansas.  We  don't  have 
half  as  easy  times  as  these  at  home  and  but  for  the  discipline 
it  wouldn't  seem  like  soldiering.  I've  been  bored  like  sin  the 
last  two  weeks  drilling  new  recruits,  but  I'm  glad  of  it,  for 
it  is  rather  pleasant  to  me  to  have  something  disagreeable  when 
I'm  bored  feeling  good.  John  Keefer  and  John  Wallace,  so  far, 
make  as  good  soldiers  as  any  men  in  camp,  Keef's  game  leg 
working  against  him,  too.  All  our  boys  are  just  the  men  for 
soldiers.  It  comes  perfectly  naturally  to  Sid.  and  Sam.  Theo. 
has  been-  in  bad  health  for  a  week,  but  I  think  he  is  improving 
now.  Fred  Norcott  is  a  splendid  boy.  He  and  Sam  match 
well.  Charley  Cooper  is  acting  as  post  orderly,  that  is,  stays 
at  headquarders  of  the  Post  Commandant,  preserves  order 
there  and  carries  messages,  dispatches,  etc.,  to  the  different 
colonels.  A  good  place  but  very  confusing. 

I  have  been  visiting  Colonel  Raritan's  and  Hick's  Camp  this 
p.  m.  They  have  no  guns  yet  and  their  sentinels  stand  guard 
with  sticks.  Looks  funny. 

We  have  about  50  prisoners  here  now.  They  think  they  are 
treated  splendidly  and  say  that  if  any  of  our  boys  fall  into  their 
hands  they  will  remember  it.  Several  of  them  are  very  intel- 
ligent-appearing men.  One  of  them  is  about  as  big  as — a  house 
with  a  foot  like  a  cooking  stove.  Charley  Maple  wrote  down 
to  us  that  he  wants  to  join  our  company ;  Keefer  wrote  him  to 
come.  I  have  to  remark  once  more  that  the  "health  of  camp 
is  better  than  ever  before,"  your  sarcastic  remark  not  having 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN   ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2/ 

affected  our  sanitary  condition  in  the  least.  You  will  please 
make  no  more  impertinent  remarks  or  comments  on  my  letters ! 

A.  H.  White  was  down  here  last  Sabbath,  and  he  and  I  found 
Frank  Smith  in  Smith's  Artillery.  I  have  been  here  right  by 
him  four  months  without  knowing  it  and  lived.  He  is  a  cor- 
poral. He,  A.  H.,  and  I  drank  some  beer,  discussed  the  af- 
fairs of  the  nation  and  adjourned.  Do  you  remember  Enos 
Lincoln?  He  is  here  in  the  I2th. 

We  have  had  some  fighting  in  camp  lately.  An  artillery  man 
stabbed  one  of  the  gth  and  got  knocked,  kicked  and  bayoneted 
for  it.  The  artillery  have  sworn  to  have  revenge  and  every 
hickory  man  (the  9th  have  a  fatigue  suit  of  hickory)  they  see 
they  pounce  onto.  They  have  a  skirmish  every  day.  One  of 
our  company  got  drunk  to-day,  got  to  fighting,  was  sent  to 
the  guardhouse,  tried  to  break  out,  guard  knocked  him  down 
with  a  gun,  cut  his  cheek  open,  etc.  He  then  got  into  a  fight 
with  four  other  men  in  the  guard  house  and  of  all  the  bunged 
eyes  and  bloody  faces  they  beat  the  record. 

Cairo,  September  9,  1861 

The  refreshments  and  drygoods  from  home  arrived 
Saturday.  We  were  at  Paducah  then  and  they  were  taken 
care  of  by  two  or  three  of  the  lame  and  halt,  that  were  not 
in  traveling  order  and  were  left  behind.  We  returned  this 
morning  and  after  acknowledging  the  excellence;  profusion, 
variety,  gorgeousness,  and  confiscarity  of  your  benevolent 
appropriation  to  our  temporal  wants,  I  will  particularize 
by  saying  that  you  needn't  worry  about  your  picture,  as 
it  is  in  my  possession;  that  the  cakes  are  both  numerous 
and  excellent,  that  the  pickles  are  prodigious  in  quantity, 
beautiful  in  quality  and  remarkably  acceptable.  That  the 
butter  and  cheese  are  non  ad  com  valorum.  The  tobacco 
and  Hostetter,  the  boys  say,  are  very  fine.  To  Mrs.  Dewey 
and  Mrs.  Heald  w«  all  return  thanks  and  send  our  kind 
respects  and  love.  We  have  sent  a  share  of  the  eatables  to 
the  Canton  boys  of  the  I7th,  which  is  again  encamped 
near  us ;  this  time  on  the  Kentucky  shore.  They  are  hard 


28  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

at  work  to-day  cutting  down  trees,  clearing  away  for  a 
camp  ground.  I  have  seen  none  of  them  yet.  We  had  the 
nicest  little  trip  to  Paducah,  that  ever  soldiers  had.  We 
have  just  received  orders  to  get  ready  to  start  in  five 
minutes. 

Time  extended  a  little.  We  had  1,500  troops  in  Paducah, 
Ky.,  and  received  information  that  they  would  be  attacked 
Saturday,  so  Friday  night  350  of  us  were  sent  up  as  an 
advance. — Now  we  go. 

Camp  Norfolk,  September  12,  1861. 
Agreeable  to  our  very  short  notice  we  packed  our  knap- 
sacks, put  three  days  rations  in  our  haversacks,  were 
carried  across  the  river  to  Bird's  Point  in  two  boats  (our 
whole  regiment),  and  just  at  dark  started  out  through  the 
woods.  'Twas  a  confounded,  dark,  dirty,  narrow  road,  and 
I  was  right  glad  when  the  word  "halt"  was  given  and 
preparations  made  for  bunking  in  for  the  night.  The  next 
morning  we  started  again  along  down  the  river,  the  gun- 
boats, two  of  them,  keeping  a  couple  of  miles  ahead  of  us. 
We  started  with  a  couple  of  pieces  of  field  artillery,  but  the 
road  got  so  bad  that  we  had  to  leave  it  after  about  three 
miles.  We  advanced  about  five  miles  when  the  gunboats, 
which  were  about  a  mile  and  one-half  ahead  of  us,  opened 
mouth,  and  thunder !  what  a  rumpus  they  did  keep  up.  We 
could  not  see  them  for  the  thick  brush  between  us  and  the 
river,  but  we  thought  sure  our  little  fight  had  come  at  last. 
We  were  drawn  up  in  the  front  yard  of  some  secesher's 
deserted  house  (a  fine  one),  and  the  colonel  with  a  small 
party  went  ahead  to  reconnoiter.  While  they  were  gone  we 
ate  our  dinners,  and  made  ready  for  the  expected  march  and 
fight.  But  the  colonel  on  his  return,  scooted  us  back  to  our 
morning's  starting  place.  Whew,  but  that  was  a  sweating 
old  march.  About  an  hour  after  we  started  back,  15  of  our 
cavalry  scouts  were  run  in,  through  the  place  where  we 
took  dinner,  by  60  or  70  secesh  cavalry.  Three  or  four 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  29 

were  wounded  and  our  boys  say  that  they  killed  several  of 
the  Rebels.  The  gunboats  came  up  in  the  p.  m.  reported 
fighting  the  "Yankee"  and  two  land  batteries,  one  of  which 
was  but  three  and  one  half  miles  below  us  (and  some  say 
but  one  and  one  half  miles)  and  had  16  guns.  They  crip- 
pled the  dam'd  "Yankee"  although  the  latter  carries  84/5, 
while  ours  hadn't  but  64's.  Our  boats  were  not  touched.  A 
deserter  came  up  from  Columbus  yesterday  afternoon  and 
says  that  our  boats  killed  200  in  the  fight.  (I  believe  he  is  a 
liar  and  a  spy).  We  have  had  it  sweet  the  last  day  and  two 
nights.  Rained  like  sixty  and  we  have  no  tents.  There  is 
no  shelter  but  a  few  trees  and  you  know  they  amount  to 
nothing  in  heavy  rains.  It  is  amusing  to  see  the  boys 
figure  at  night  for  dry  beds.  Every  thing,  gates,  cordwood, 
rails,  cornstalks,  weeds  and  panels  of  fence  and  boards  are 
confiscated,  and  genius  is  taxed  its  utmost  to  make  the 
sleeping  as  comfortable  as  possible.  Milo  Farewell,  Hy. 
Johnson  and  myself  sleep  on  an  armful  of  cornstalks 
thrown  on  a  floor  of  rails.  With  nothing  between  us  and 
the  clouds.  Sid.,  (Sidney  Stockdale)  and  Theo.  each  had 
three  sticks  of  four  foot  cord  wood  for  a  couch,  with  their 
feet  resting  in  a  mudpuddle.  We  are  further  out  than  any 
other  regiment  now.  I  tell  you  I  like  this,  and  feel  like 
knocking  down  any  man  that  I  hear  grumble.  None  of  our 
boys  do  that  I  hear  of.  We  will  have  our  tents  here  this 
p.  m.  though  I  would  rather  be  without  them ;  they  are  so 
much  trouble.  I  know  we  will  have  no  dirtier  time  than 
we  have  had  the  last  two  days,  and  until  it  gets  cold  I 
would  rather  not  have  tents  if  it  is  the  same  all  the  time. 
I  fell  in  love  with  Paducah  while  I  was  there,  and  I  think 
I  will  settle  there  when  the  war  is  over.  I  never  saw  so 
many  pretty  women  in  my  life.  All  fat,  smooth-skinned 
small  boned,  highbred  looking  women.  They  hollered 
"Hurrah  for  Jeff"  at  us,  some  of  them,  but  that's  all  right. 
I  could  write  until  to-morrow  morning  about  Paducah, 
but  I  must  go  and  confiscate  some  corn  for  dinner. 


30  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Norfolk,  September  16,  1861. 

We  are  still  here  at  Norfolk  and  now  in  camp  for  we  don't 
know  how  long.  We  got  tents  the  day  after  the  date  of  my  last, 
and  splendid  ones  they  are.  They  are  full  10  feet  high  and  15 
feet  across.  They  each  accommodate  about  15  men.  Since 
we  have  been  here  we  have  been  out  scouting  three  times.  The 
first  time  we  were  down  the  river  about  five  miles.  That  was 
the  time  our  gunboats  had  the  fight  with  the  "Yankee"  and  the 
land  batteries.  Two  days  afterward  a  body  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  came  up  almost  to  our  camp,  and  after  dinner  we  were 
sent  out  to  look  them  up.  We  were  scooting  along  through  a 
thick  wood  when  one  of  our  cavalry  men  came  back  half  scared 
out  of  his  wits  (we  had  about  20  of  the  cavalry  ahead  acting 
as  scouts)  and  reported  a  whole  mess  of  men  just  over  a  rise 
of  ground  ahead  of  us.  Our  company  was  in  the  van,  and  the 
column  came  into  line  on  us  and  our  cavalry  tried  to  draw  the 
enemy  back  on  our  position,  but  Mr.  Enemy  "drawed"  the 
other  way  and  again  we  missed  our  little  fight.  Last  Saturday 
we  started  out  again  at  noon  and  went  down  the  river  10  miles 
where  we  thought  sure  we'd  find  secesh,  but  he  had  again  left. 
We  had  2,000  men  this  time  and  6  pieces  of  artillery.  We  had 
stopped  to  rest  when  a  cloud  of  dust  was  observed  rising  on 
our  side  of  the  river  about  four  miles  from  us.  Some  of  the 
boys  had  glasses  with  them  and  made  out  the  cause  to  be  a  body 
of  cavalry.  Our  right  was  marched  a  few  hundred  yards  to  the 
front  and  placed  in  line  of  battle  with  the  left  at  the  river  bank 
and  our  right  extending  along  an  edge  of  woods  and  fronting 
a  cornfield  and  open  pass  between  it  and  the  river.  A  splendid 
place  (for  our  side)  for  a  fight.  Our  gunboat  then  started 
down  the  river,  fired  at  and  dispersed  one  body  they  saw  and 
then  slipped  a  few  shells  into  Columbus  and  returned.  We 
were  within  four  or  five  miles  of  Columbus  where  there  are 
(our  colonel  says)  26,000  troops,  and  on  ground  where  the 
secesh  were  encamped  but  lately  with  16  pieces  of  artillery. 
We  started  back  at  dusk  and  got  home  about  10  o'clock;  some 
of  the  boys  pretty  tired.  I  stand  these  little  trips  like  a  horse 
and  would  rather  go  every  day  than  lay  around  camp.  Yester- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  3! 

day  (Sunday)  the  "Yankee"  came  up  and  shelled  the  woods 
where  we  were  the  day  before.  She  tried  to  throw  some  shells 
into  our  camp  but  they  didn't  reach  us  by  a  mile  and  a  half. 
One  of  our  gunboats  has  to  lay  here  all  the  time  or  the  "Yan- 
kee" would  make  us  skedaddle  out  of  this  on  double  quick. 
Don't  talk  about  furloughs.  They  are  played  out.  A  dispatch 
came  this  last  week  to  Colonel  Oglesby  that  his  wife  was 
dying.  He  went  up  to  Cairo  but  General  McClernand  showed 
him  an  order  from  McClellan,  vetoing  furloughs,  no  matter 
for  what.  So  the  colonel  had  to  return  here.  I'd  like  very 
much  to  go  home  but  I'll  enjoy  it  all  the  more  when  this  busi- 
ness is  finished.  The  I7th  is  encamped  just  opposite  us  on 
Island  No.  I,  but  we  can't  get  to  see  them.  Our  boys  are  in 
good  spirits.  Sid.  and  Sam  and  Theo.  are  now  all  right.  Milo 
Farewell  thinks  he  has  the  dumb  ague.  Fred  Norcott  is  sick 
in  Cairo.  Charley  Cooper  is  also  sick  I  have  heard.  I  am  all 
right.  My  office  is  sergeant,  two  grades  below  private.  Our 
company  goes  out  on  picket  to-night. 

September  17,  1861. 

Well,  I've  slept  half  of  this  day  and  feel  sleepy  yet.  I  had  a 
tough  time  on  picket  last  night.  We  were  divided  into  four 
squads  and  owing  to  the  small  number  of  men  we  had  out 
(only  50)  the  corporals  had  to  stand  guard  as  privates;  so  I 
had  all  the  stationing  of  reliefs  to  do  myself  and  did  not  get  a 
minute's  sleep  all  night.  We  were  not  troubled  any  by  the 
enemy  but  the  mosquitoes  and  fleas  gave  us  the  devil. 

A  coon  came  sliding  down  the  tree  Sam  Nutt  was  stationed 
under,  and  he  thought  he  was  taken  sure.  The  people  here  say 
that  there  are  lots  of  bears  and  tiger  cats  killed  here  every 
winter.  Sam  has  been  to  Cairo  to-day  and  says  that  Keef, 
Fred  Norcott  and  Cooper  are  all  much  better.  There  is  a  ru- 
mor now  that  our  right  is  going  to  Virginia,  but  I  don't  believe 
it.  It  is  too  good  to  be  true.  Our  cook  has  been  sick  for  sev- 
eral days  and  we  have  been  just  about  half  living  on  account  of 
our  being  too  lazy  to  cook.  I  don't  mean  to  be  disrespectful 
when  I  say  I  was  about  as  glad  to  see  him  cooking  again  this 


32  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

morning,  as  I  would  be  to  see  you.  He  is  a  splendid  nigger, 
seems  to  think  the  world  of  us  boys.  He  buys  a  great  many  lit- 
tle things  for  us  with  his  own  money,  which  as  we  are  all  out, 
is  a  good  institution.  We  are  to  get  our  pay  next  week  the  offi- 
cers say.  My  pay  is  some  $18  or  $20  a  month  now.  I  am  en- 
titled to  a  straight  sword  now,  but  as  I  have  to  carry  a  musket 
also,  I'll  trade  it  off  for  gingerbread  if  they'll  let  me,  and  if 
they  won't  I'll  lose  it  sure  for  I  have  enough  to  carry  without 
it.  I  can  hear  the  tattoo  now  before  the  colonel's  quarters  at 
the  other  end  of  the  camp  and  our  boys  are  singing,  "Home 
Again"  as  they  lie  around  me  in  our  tent.  I  thank  goodness 
that  none  of  them  get  homesick  like  some  do  that  I  know  in  our 
right.  I  do  despise  these  whiners.  I  expect  (I  have  just  this 
instant  heard  that  they  have  been  fighting  in  Washington  for 
the  last  24  hours.  Now  I'll  finish  the  sentence  I  had  com- 
menced) to  be  with  those  I  love  in  eight  months  if  the  ex- 
pected battle  in  Washington  results  favorably  for  our  country, 
if  not,  do  not  look  for  me  for  three  years.  If  they  whip  us 
again  there  I  want  to  fight  the  rest  of  my  life  if  necessary, 
and  die  before  we  recognize  them  as  anything  but  Rebels  and 
traitors  who  must  be  humbled.  I  don't  believe  yet  awhile  the 
news  but  I  kind  o'  feel  it  all  through  me  that  there  is  a  battle 
more  to  be  recorded  and  that  we  are  the  victors.  All  that  we 
have  heard  is  that  they  are  fighting.  Colonel  Turchin's  I9th 
left  Cairo  last  night  for  the  east  somewhere.  We  are  rapidly 
learning  to  appropriate  and  confiscate.  On  our  last  scout  one 
of  our  boys  rode  a  stray  horse  back  and  another  came  in  with 
a  female  jackass  and  her  child.  Chickens  are  very  scarce  here 
now  and  the  natives  complain  that  sweet  potato  hills  have 
turned  into  holes  since  we  have  been  here.  Our  mess  have 
this  p.  m.  confiscated  the  roof  of  a  man's  barn  to  cover  our 
cook  house  with. 

Norfolk  (date  torn  off.) 

The  colonel  talks  some  to-night  about  a  forward  movement, 
and  two  regiments  have  come  across  the  river  from  the  Ken- 
tucky side  this  evening,  the  Iowa  2d  and  7th.  The  I7th  are 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  33 

still  opposite  us  and  I  have  seen  none  of  them  yet.  Our  cav- 
alry scouts  are  fighting  now  more  or  less  every  day.  Yesterday 
a  party  of  the  Iowa  7th  were  out  hunting  bushwhackers  when 
they  were  attacked  by  a  company  of  horsemen  of  whom  they 
killed  four.  One  of  our  men  was  shot  while  returning  from 
a  scout.  They  routed  the  enemy  but  came  back  and  reported 
four  of  their  men  missing,  but  the  lost  four  have  all  come  in 
to-day.  Our  men  think  they  finished  a  couple  at  least  but  'tis 
questionable.  We  are  all  again  bored  to  death  with  lying  still, 
but  patience  and  we'll  get  what  we  want  in  time.  We  have  the 
report  here  to-day  that  Colonel  Mulligan  has  capitulated  to 
Price,  Jackson  &  Co.  at  Lexington.  This,  if  true,  will  certainly 
retard  our  movement  down  the  Mississippi.  I'm  getting  per- 
fectly indifferent  about  Fremont's  being  superseded  or  as  to 
who  has  the  command.  It  seems  to  me  that  none  of  our  com- 
manders are  doing  anything.  With  at  least  75,000  troops  at 
Paducah,  Cairo  and  in  Missouri  to  allow  the  gallant  Mulligan 
to  be  forced  to  surrender  is  perfectly  shameful.  It's  disheart- 
ening to  a  soldier,  I  tell  you.  Let  them  go  on,  if  this  war 
goes  against  us  'twill  be  the  fault  of  our  commanders  and  not 
of  the  men,  sure.  Yesterday  information  was  brought  our  col- 
onel that  a  battery  was  in  course  of  erection  on  the  Kentucky 
shore  six  miles  below  us.  We  were  put  on  steamboats  2,000 
or  2,500  strong  and  preceded  by  two  gunboats  scooted  down, 
when  within  a  mile  of  the  place  our  regiment  was  landed  and 
we  marched  down  but  of  course  found  no  battery. 

Norfolk,  September  30,  1861. 

You  think  I'm  doing  pretty  well  in  the  number  of  my  letters, 
don't  you  ?  I  can  afford  to  for  you  are  the  only  correspondent 
I  have.  You  musn't  be  surprised  if  you  don't  get  letters  from 
me  so  regularly  after  this,  for  if  we  start  back  in  the  country, 
as  I  expect  we  will,  to  intercept  Price's  retreat  if  Fremont 
whips  him,  we  may  be  away  from  mails  and  such  like  for  some 
time.  If  anything  happens  to  me  you  will  hear  it  just  as  quick 
as  the  news  can  be  taken  to  you. 


34  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Since  my  last  we  have  had  some  more  fun  here.  Our  com- 
pany was  out  a  few  miles  the  other  day  to  capture  an  old  cuss 
we  thought  was  peddling  news  from  our  camp  down  to  Colum- 
bus. He  had  skedaddled  though  before  we  got  to  his  house. 
We  gobbled  up  all  the  loose  plunder  we  could  find  lying  around, 
it  wasn't  much,  and  marched  back.  We  had  a  mighty  good 
time  on  picket  a  few  nights  ago.  It  was  confounded  cold, 
bushwhackers  or  no  bushwackers  we  concluded  to  have  a  fire. 
A  couple  of  the  boys  volunteered  to  go  back  to  camp  for  kettles 
and  coffee,  and  we  found  lots  of  nice  roasting  ears  in  the  field 
we  were  camped  in,  and  a  kind  of  pumpkin  that  ate  very  w«ll 
after  a  little  roast  before  the  fire.  Then  there  were  splendid 
pawpaws,  lots  of  nuts  of  all  kinds  which  a  little  fire  made  ripe, 
and  we  sat  and  cooked  and  ate  all  night.  I  can  eat,  if  neces- 
sary, 36  hours  without  intermission  except  for  an  occasional 
drink,  and  I  drink  nearly  a  half  gallon  of  coffee  per  day. 

Last  night  the  Pekin  company  in  our  regiment  were  on 
picket  and  at  3  this  morning  they  were  attacked.  Ten  of  them 
held  their  ground  against  150  half-mounted  and  half- foot  and 
finally  made  them  scoot.  It  .was  a  devilish  brave  thing.  The 
Rebels  left  one  dead  and  one  so  badly  wounded  that  he'll  die 
to-night,  and  carried  off  two  others  dead  and  four  badly 
wounded.  A  lot  more  were  scratched.  But  one  of  our  men  was 
wounded,  and  that  a  flesh  wound  in  the  arm,  that  will  hardly 
take  him  off  duty.  The  firing  roused  us  here  in  the  camp  and 
we  thought  from  the  noise  that  the  longed  fight  had  come  at 
last  for  certain.  I  tell  you  it  was  funny  when  the  long  roll 
(we  would  not  get  out  of  bed  without  the  long  roll  for  a 
thousand  cannons  these  cold  nights)  to  see  the  boys  scramble 
for  shoes  and  accoutrements.  There  was  some  profanity.  I 
have  just  been  to  see  a  poor  devil  that  has  blown  half  of  his 
head  off  this  afternoon  to  get  rid  of  his  troubles.  A  soldier. 
Don't  know  what  he  suicided  for.  We  are  messed  off  now, 
15  in  a  tent,  each  tent's  inmates  cooking  and  eating  by  them- 
selves. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  35 

Bird's  Point,  October  2,  '61. 

Just  at  noon  yesterday  orders  came  to  strike  tents  and  in 
an  hour  we  were  under  way  and  have  come  to  a  halt  in  this 
forsaken  hole.  It  seems  that  the  8th  can't  get  out  of  hearing 
of  the  Cairo  morning  and  evening  gun  anyway.  Our  major 
says  they  are  talking  of  chucking  us  into  Cairo  and  making 
us  garrison  it  this  winter.  I'll  be  tempted  to  desert  if  'tis  so. 
The  22d  call  us  the  featherbed  regiment  now,  and  if  they  keep 
us  this  way  much  longer  we  will  be  tender  as  women.  It  was 
late  and  we  were  tired  when  we  pitched  our  tents  last  night 
and  we  didn't  "ditch  round"  as  usual,  trusting  to  providence 
for  a  dry  night.  But  'twas  confidence  misplaced  and  some  of 
the  boys  found  the  ground  slightly  damp  under  them  this  morn- 
ing. It  has  been  raining  like  the  devil  all  a.  m.  and  the  mud  is 
quite  salubrious.  I  find  my  old  Havana  schoolmate,  Jem 
Walker,  here  in  the  28th,  Ritter's  company.  Haven't  seen 
Smith  yet.  The  Rebels  came  right  up  to  Norfolk  after  we 
left  last  night,  and  about  3  I  heard  the  cavalry  called  out,  and 
this  morning  I  see  the  2d  Iowa  and  nth  Illinois  are  gone. 
Suppose  they  all  went  down  that  way.  I  have  disposed  of 
all  my  surplus  baggage  and  now  have  two  shirts,  two  pair 
socks,  one  blanket,  one  pair  pants,  one  coat,  one  pair  shoes, 
one  hat,  toothbrush  and  one  pocket  comb.  That's  all  I'm 
worth.  I  can  get  all  the  clothing  I  want  of  the  quartermaster 
any  time.  You  scout  the  idea  of  one's  liking  such  a  life  as 
this.  I  tell  you  that  I  never  was  so  well  satisfied  in  my  life 
as  I  have  been  since  I  joined  the  army.  I  do  really  enjoy 
it  all  the  time,  and  if  our  boys  here  write  the  truth  home  they 
will  say  the  same.  Nobody  ever  heard  me  grumble  a  word 
about  soldiering  and  never  will  if  they  don't  station  us  in 
Cairo. 

Bird's  Point,  October  10,  1861. 

I  have  just  finished  a  dinner  of  cider,  cake,  bread,  butter, 
etc.  We  have  just  been  paid  off  and  of  course  have  to  indulge 
in  a  few  delicacies  for  awhile.  Last  Tuesday  we  were  ordered 
to  strike  tents  and  pack  for  a  march.  It  wasn't  much  of  a 

3 


36  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

march  though  for  we  were  put  on  the  cars  and  rolled  out  to 
Charleston,  12  miles  from  here,  where  we  camped  on  a  beau- 
tiful little  prairie  adjoining  town.  The  nth  Illinois,  Taylor's 
artillery  and  two  companies  of  cavalry  and  our  regiment 
formed  the  party.  I  think  we  were  out  looking  after  that 
damned  Jeff  Thompson,  who  is  reported  everywhere  from 
Ironton  down  to  New  Madrid.  I  don't  believe  he  has  a  thous- 
and men,  for  there  seems  to  be  nothing  reliable  about  any 
of  the  reports  we  have  of  him.  The  natives  up  at  Charleston 
told  us  that  Jeff  was  at  Sykestown,  12  miles  from  there,  with 
5,000  or  6,000  troops,  and  our  pickets  had  several  little  fights 
with  his,  or  what  we  supposed  to  be  his,  but — well,  the  gen- 
erals may  know  better  but  we  that  stay  in  the  ranks  think 
that  there  is  no  enemy  nearer  than  Columbus  save  a  few  small 
bands  of  bushwhackers,  who,  under  the  impression  that  they 
are  upholding  principles  eternal  and  doing  their  country  ser- 
vice, gobble  up  everything  sweet  or  sour,  that  weighs  less  than 
a  ton.  We  came  down  from  Charleston  Thursday.  We 
marched  about  10  miles  of  the  way  through  an  immense  (it 
seemed  so  to  me)  cypress  swamp.  I  think  Mrs.  Stowes' 
"Dred"  would  have  enjoyed  that  swamp  hugely.  It  was  rather 
an  interesting  piece  of  scenery  for  a  first  view,  but  I  don't 
think  I  should  enjoy  living  in  sight  of  it.  The  i8th,  Colonel 
Lawler,  worked  six  or  eight  weeks  in  this  swamp  repairing 
bridges  the  secesh  had  burnt,  and  it  put  half  their  men  on 
the  sick  list.  We  got  our  pay  in  treasury  notes  but  they  are 
as  good  as  the  gold.  Lots  of  the  boys  have  traded  them  off 
for  gold  "even  up."  I  get  $21  this  time  for  two  months  and 
five  days,  our  other  boys  got  $14  or  $15.  I  am  third  sergeant 
now,  our  second  having  been  appointed  sergeant  major.  I 
think  I  should  rather  be  sergeant,  for  the  field  officers  make 
a  kind  of  servant  of  the  sergeant  major.  I  send  you  a  couple 
of  daguerreotypes  to  let  you  see  what  a  "skeleton"  I  have  be- 
come. Our  boys  are  all  very  well.  The  I7th  is  in  a  pretty  hard 
condition,  nearly  half  of  them  sick  and  as  a  regiment  pretty 
badly  used  up.  We  have  been  paid  twice  and  they  only  $10 
yet. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  37 

Bird's  Point,  October  18,  1861 

We  yesterday  drew  our  overcoats,  and  splendid  ones 
they  are.  The  cloth  is  light  blue  and  they  reach  nearly  to 
our  feet.  They  have  capes  on  them  that  come  over  a  fel- 
low's head  nicely  nights.  The  weather  is  about  like  you 
have  I  expect,  but  I  know  we  will  be  very  comfortable 
with  the  clothing  we  have  in  any  weather.  I  wouldn't 
have  the  war  end  before  next  spring  for  anything,  for  I 
want  to  try  a  winter  out  doors.  Every  one  of  the  Canton 
boys  is  in  excellent  health  and  all  very  well  satisfied.  The 
boys  are  receiving  letters  almost  every  day  that  read  "we 
have  heard  that  so  and  so  is  sick,"  and  this  morning  John 
Wallace  got  one  that  said  that  Sam  Nutt  and  three  others 
were  shot  while  on  guard.  You  may  know  that  such  reports 
are  always  lies  unless  you  see  it  with  the  names  in  the 
papers  long  before  a  letter  would  reach  you  from  here.  John 
Wallace  is  just  one  of  the  best  boys  in  the  camp.  It  would 
do  you  good  to  see  how  contentedly  the  boys  all  take 
things.  There  is  more  life  and  fun  in  our  tent  every  night 
than  we  ever  had  at  home.  Sam  and  Fred  Norcott  make 
more  noise  and  sport  in  an  evening  than  all  Canton  can 
furnish  in  a  week.  We  love  and  respect  all  our  officers 
but  one,  and  he  is  the  best  officer  we  have,  but  a  little  too 
much  regular  army  about  him.  Our  captain  is  what  the 
girls  would  call  a  "dear  old  fellow,"  though  he  does  have  his 
own  way  every  time.  It  seems  to  be  the  right  way  always 
so  we  think  the  world  of  him.  They  are  just  burying  some 
poor  fellow.  We  have  had  several  deaths  in  the  regiment 
lately.  They  do  not  play  the  prettiest  dead  marches  here. 
I  have  been  detached  from  the  company  for  a  week  acting 
as  sheriff  of  a  court  martial.  Colonel  Marsh,  Colonel 
Logan,  Colonel  Tuttle  of  the  Iowa  2d,  and  a  couple  of 
captains  form  the  court.  I  have  four  men  a  day  to  guard 
the  prisoners  and  two  orderlies  to  send  errands  for  me,  so 
I  play  big  injun  strongly.  The  prisoner  murdered  a  com- 
rade while  we  were  down  at  Norfolk.  Smote  him  on  the 
head  with  a  club.  He  is  from  Company  B  of  our  regiment. 


461147 


38  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

That  company,  besides  this  case,  had  a  man  shot  dead  the 
other  day  by  one  of  their  own  company.  An  accident. 
This  morning  they  had  a  man  stabbed,  and  day  before 
yesterday  they  confined  one  of  their  men  for  trying  to  kill 
two  others.  For  all  this  they  are  really  a  good  company 
of  men.  We  had  a  review  Tuesday  this  week  of  6  regi- 
ments, 2  batteries  and  400  or  500  cavalry.  Very  fine.  I 
suppose  you  saw  an  account  of  the  Pekin  company  of  our 
regiment  killing  four  or  five  Rebels  that  made  an  attack 
on  them  while  they  were  guarding  a  bridge.  Ten  of  them 
stood  their  ground  against  a  large  party,  and  held  the 
ground  too.  We  buried  two  secesh  and  they  carried  off 
four.  We  lost  none.  The  best  fight  yet  was  ten  miles 
below  here  the  other  day  between  26  of  our  men  and  160 
Rebels.  You've  seen  it  in  the  papers.  Sam  Nutt  and  John 
Wallace  stood  guard  two  nights  before  at  the  place  where 
the  first  fight  was.  Oh  heavens,  I  hope  I  can  date  my 
next  from  somewhere  else. 

Bird's  Point,  October  27,  1861. 

I  haven't  written  for  a  full  week  because  I  really  had  noth- 
ing to  write  and  in  fact  I  have  not  now.  Although  soldiering 
is  a  hugely  lazy  life,  yet  these  short  days  we  seem  to  have  but 
little  spare  time.  We  are  up  nearly  an  hour  before  sun  up,  have 
breakfast  about  sunrise,  drill  (company)  from  about  8  to  10. 
Cards  until  dinner  time,  12 ;  lounge  or  read  until  2 ;  battalion 
drill  untill  4:30  or  5,  supper,  and  then  dress  parade  at  4:45; 
from  candle  lighting  untill  bedtime  (taps),  10,  we  have  cards 
mixed  with  singing  or  some  awful  noises  from  Sam  Nutt  and 
Fred  Norcott.  Those  two  boys  can  make  more  noise  than 
three  threshing  machines.  Our  boys  are  all  in  excellent 
health  and  prime  spirits.  Fred  and  Sam  and  Sid  are  fatter 
than  the  Canton  folk  ever  saw  them.  There  are  but  four 
regiments  at  the  Point  now,  so  we  have  to  work  on  the  en- 
trenchments every  fourth  day  two  hours  or  cut  down  trees 
the  same  length  of  time.  We  are  clearing  away  the  timber 
within  500  yards  of  the  earthworks.  It  is  mostly  cottonwood 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  39 

and  very  heavy.  They  stand  so  thick  that  if  we  notch  a  dozen 
or  so  pretty  deep  and  then  fell  one  it  will  knock  three  or  four 
down.  Lin  Coldwell  and  I  are  going  to  get  a  set  of  chess 
to-morrow.  That  gunboat,  "New  Era,"  that  the  papers  blow 
so  much  about  is  of  no  account  as  a  gunboat.  She  is  laid  up 
at  Mound  City  for  a  battery.  The  men  on  her  have  told  me 
that  she  wouldn't  half  stand  before  a  land  battery  that 
amounted  to  anything.  We  are  beginning  to  have  some  frost 
here,  but  I  don't  believe  we'd  suffer  a  bit  lying  in  these  tents 
all  winter.  The  sickly  season  is  over  now  and  the  health  is 
improving  very  much.  We  had  18  on  the  sick  list  in  our 
company  three  weeks  ago  and  now  we  have  but  three,  and 
they  are  only  diarrhoea  or  the  like.  I  tell  you  I  feel  as  strong 
as  two  mules  and  am  improving.  I  haven't  been  the  least 
unwell  yet.  Our  boys  are  perfectly  sick  for  a  fight  so  they 
can  be  even  with  the  i/th.  We  are  sure  that  the  I7th  doesn't 
deserve  to  be  named  the  same  day  with  us  for  drill  or  dis- 
cipline, with  all  their  bragging.  They  are  an  awful  set  of 
blowhards.  Sid.,  Theo.,  Ben  Rockhold  and  John  Wallace  are 
on  picket  out  of  our  mess  to-night.  The  picket  was  fired  on 
last  night  where  they  are  posted  to-night. 

Cape  Girardeau,  November  n,  1861. 

We  have  just  arrived  here  after  a  week's  absence  from  any 
sign  of  civilized  life.  Saturday  the  2d  we  (our  company) 
went  out  six  or  seven  miles  from  the  Point  to  guard  a  bridge 
on  the  Cairo  and  Fulton  Railroad.  Sunday  we  came  back  to 
the  Point,  and  found  the  tents  of  our  regiment  all  struck  and 
everything  prepared  for  a  march.  By  dark  we  were  all.  safely 
stowed  on  the  "Aleck  Scott,"  and  also  five  companies  of  the 
nth  Illinois.  At  10  p.  m.  the  boat  shoved  out,  but  had  to  tie 
to  all  night  about  10  miles  up  the  river  on  account  of  the 
fog.  Monday  at  10  a.  m.  we  landed  at  Commerce  between 
Cape  Girardeau  and  Cairo  and  stayed  there  all  night.  Up  to 
this  time  we  had  not  the  most  distant  idea  of  where  we  were 
going,  but  here  we  began  to  guess  that  we  were  after  Jeff 
Thompson  and  company.  Tuesday  morning  we  started  back 
into  the  country  and  camped  for  the  night  on  Colonel  Hun- 
ter's farm,  a  distance  of  18  miles.  (I  forgot  to  mention  that 


40  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

the  1 8th  and  22d  Illinois  with  three  companies,  cavalry  and 
two  pieces  artillery  joined  us  before  we  started  from  Com- 
merce, making  a  total  of  some  2,200  men.)  This  Colonel 
Hunter  is  in  the  Rebel  Army  When  we  stopped  at  his  farm 
there  was  a  large  flock  of  sheep,  at  least  40  goats  and  pigs, 
turkey,  geese,  chickens  and  ducks  without  number.  After  we 
had  been  there  a  half  hour  I  don't  believe  there  was  a  living 
thing  on  the  farm  that  did  not  come  with  our  train.  I  never 
saw  a  slaughterhouse  on  as  large  a  scale  before.  The 
next  day  the  boys  made  an  awful  uproar  on  the  road,  playing 
that  the  sheep,  hogs,  geese,  etc.,  inside  of  them  were  calling 
for  their  comrades.  Wednesday  night  we  stopped  at  Little 
Water  River  and  the  slaughtering  commenced  immediately. 
All  along  the  road  up  to  this  place  every  horse  or  mule  that 
showed  himself  was  gobbled  instanter,  a  bridle  cramped,  and 
some  footman  made  happy.  It  was  hard  to  tell  whether  our 
force  was  infantry  or  cavalry  that  night.  This  was  too  much 
for  the  colonel,  so  next  morning  he  drew  the  brigade  up  in 
column  of  company  and  gave  us  fits.  He  made  the  men  turn 
every  horse  loose;  told  us  that  the  next  man  that  cramped 
anything  without  permission  would  be  dealt  with  as  severely 
as  the  regulations  would  allow.  That  suited  me.  I  never 
have  been  disgusted  with  soldiering  save  in  those  two  days,  and 
I  tell  you  that  I  did  then  feel  like  deserting.  When  we  are 
marching  through  a  country  as  thoroughly  secesh  as  this  is, 
I  think  that  the  men  should  be  allowed  fresh  meat  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  natives ;  but  there  is  a  proper  and  soldier-like  way 
to  get  it.  We  can  send  our  foraging  party  ahead  and  have 
all  we  want  at  camp  when  we  halt,  but  to  allow  men  to 
butcher  everything  they  see  is  moblike.  Wednesday  night 
Jeff's  men  tried  to  burn  a  bridge  a  short  distance  from  us 
and  this  led  to  a  little  brush,  but  the  cavalry  only  were  en- 
gaged. Thursday  we  marched  all  day  and  went  into  camp 
at  night  without  seeing  a  horse.  The  march  was  through  the 
"Black  Swamp."  The  ground  was  covered  with  this  black 
moss  four  inches  deep  and  so  thick  that  'tis  like  a  carpet. 
That  was  an  awful  gloomy  road  and  I  was  glad  enough  to 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  4! 

land  at  a  nice  clear  stream  and  have  orders  to  pitch  tents. 
That  night  not  a  thing  was  pressed.  The  next  day  we  got  into 
Bloomfield  about  9  a.  m.  and  found  Jeff  gone.  For  the  third 
time  we  pitched  tents  on  one  of  his  deserted  camps.  I  have 
just  now  heard  that  we  started  with  orders  to  push  on  down 
to  New  Madrid,  but  here  the  orders  were  countermanded  and 
we  were  started  to  Cape  Girardeau.  This  Bloomfield  is  a  rank 
Rebel  hole.  The  first  Rebel  company  in  Missouri  was  raised 
here.  It  is  the  county  seat  of  Stoddard  or  Scott,  and  a  very 
fine  place.  Here  the  boys  got  the  understanding  that  we  were 
to  be  allowed  some  liberties  and  take  them  they  did.  They 
broke  open  four  or  five  stores  whose  owners  had  left,  and  helped 
themselves.  Colonel  Dick  (Oglesby)  thought  this  was  going  too 
far,  so  he  stopped  it  and  sent  a  police  force  around  to  collect  the 
stolen  (pressed  rather)  property.  I  walked  around  and  took 
a  look  at  the  pile  they  collected.  There  were  lots  of  women's 
bonnets,  girl's  hats,  mallets,  jars  of  medicine,  looking  glasses 
three  feet  long,  boys'  boots,  flat  irons,  a  nice  side  table  and 
I  don't  know  what  wasn't  there.  It  beat  anything  I  ever  saw. 
The  men  had  no  way  to  carry  these  things  but  on  their  backs, 
and  what  the  devil  they  stole  them  for  is  more  than  I  know. 
Well,  the  colonel  divided  the  stuff  out  again  among  the  men, 
but  stopped  stealing  entirely  for  the  future.  We  have  been  a 
respectable  regiment  since  then.  On  the  march  back  to  the 
Cape,  the  loth  Iowa  was  ahead  of  us  and  they  fired  several 
houses.  We  (our  regiment)  saved  one  of  the  houses  but  the 
rest  burned  down.  The  march  back  to  the  Cape  was  a  fast 
one  but  quiet.  We  arrested  some  20  or  30  of  Jeff's  men  but 
released  them  all  again.  At  Bloomfield  my  tent  was  pitched 
under  a  tree  on  which  we  saw  the  marks  of  three  ropes  to  the 
ends  of  which  Colonel  Lowe  attached  three  men  not  very  long 
since.  The  ropes  had  cut  through  the  moss  on  the  tree  and 
the  marks  will  be  visible  a  long  time.  We  also  arrested  a 
number  of  men  that  had  been  concerned  in  hanging  Union 
men  through  the  country,  At  Round  Pond  an  intelligent  man 
told  us  that  17  men  (Union)  had  been  hung  and  shot  inside 
of  three  days  and  he  saw  their  bodies  in  one  pile  lying  in  the 


42  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

woods.  We  have  marched  over  100  miles  this  trip,  and  we 
have  not  seen  a  mile  of  prairie.  I  haven't  been  20  feet  from 
a  tree  for  three  months.  The  I7th  are  going  into  winter 
quarters  here.  Our  regiment  will  certainly  be  in  the  next  fight 
at  Columbus.  We  start  back  to  the  Point  at  3  to-morrow 
morning. 

Bird's  Point,  November  13,  1861. 

Home  once  more.  We  all  call  this  home  now.  Just 
as  we  landed  last  night  the  Iowa  7th  was  forming  for 
dress  parade.  One  company  had  but  n  and  another  but 
15  men;  all  that  came  out  of  the  Belmont  fight  safely. 
Other  companies  had  half  and  some  three-fourths  of  their 
men  they  started  with.  General  Grant  tries  to  make  out 
that  there  were  about  150  or  175  men  lost  on  our  side,  but 
I'll  stake  my  life  that  we  lost  not  less  than  500.  I  am 
sure  that  the  22d  Illinois  lost  not  less  than  175,  the  7th 
Iowa  at  least  200,  and  the  other  three  regiments  150  more. 
Grant  says  that  he  achieved  a  victory  and  accomplished 
the  object  of  his  expedition.  It  may  be  so  (the  latter  part 
of  it)  but  almost  every  one  here  doubts  the  story.  He  says 
his  object  was  to  threaten  Columbus,  to  keep  them  from 
sending  reinforcements  to  Price.  Well  he  has  threatened 
them,  had  a  fight,  and  why  they  can't  send  reinforcements 
now  as  well  as  before,  is  more  than  I  know.  I  never  will 
believe  that  it  was  necessary  to  sacrifice  two  as  good 
regiments  as  there  were  in  the  West,  to  accomplish  all 
that  I  can  see  has  been  done  this  time.  Altogether  there 
were  some  6,000  men  from  here,  Cape  Girardeau  and 
Ironton,  on  the  expedition  that  our  regiment  was  on 
marching  by  different  roads.  Grant  says  now  that  we 
were  all  after  Jeff  Thompson.  I  don't  believe  it.  I  think 
the  Paducah  forces  were  to  take  Columbus,  Grant  was 
going  to  swallow  Belmont,  we  were  to  drive  all  the  guer- 
rillas before  us  to  New  Madrid,  and  then  with  Paducah 
forces  and  Grant's  we  were  to  take  Madrid  and  probably 
go  on  to  Memphis  or  maybe  join  Fremont  with  our  Army 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN   ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  43 

of  say  15,000  men.  Well,  Grant  got  whipped  at  Belmont, 
and  that  scared  him  so  that  he  countermanded  all  our 
orders  and  took  all  the  troops  back  to  their  old  stations 
by  forced  marches.  There  was  some  very  good  fighting 
done  at  Belmont  by  both  sides.  The  226.  Illinois  and  7th 
Iowa  did  about  all  the  fighting,  and  sustained  much  the 
heaviest  loss.  The  boys  are  not  the  least  discouraged  and 
they  all  want  to  go  back  and  try  it  again.  The  whole  camp 
has  the  Columbus  fever,  and  I  don't  believe  there  are 
20  men  that  would  take  a  furlough  if  they  thought  an 
advance  would  be  made  on  Columbus  while  they  were 
absent.  The  enemy  there  are  very  well  fed,  clothed  and 
armed.  Arkansas  and  Tennessee  troops  with  some  Mis- 
sissippians.  The  retreat  was  a  route,  for  our  men  were 
scattered  everywhere.  I  don't  care  what  the  papers  say, 
the  men  that  were  in  it  say  that  every  man  took  care  of 
himself,  and  hardly  two  men  of  a  regiment  were  together. 
The  men  ran  because  they  were  scattered  and  saw  that  the 
force  against  them  was  overwhelming,  but  the  universal 
testimony  is  that  there  was  no  panic,  nine  out  of  ten  of  the 
men  came  on  the  boats  laughing  and  joking.  They  had 
been  fighting  six  or  seven  hours,  and  cannon  and  musketry 
couldn't  scare  them  any  more.  There  are  hundreds  of 
stories,  and  good  ones,  out  but  I  always  spoil  them  by 
trying  to  put  them  on  paper. 

Bird's  Point,  November  20,  1861 

Part  of  Pitt's  (Col.  W.  Pitt  Kellogg's)  cavalry  are  here. 
We  are  glad  to  see  them  as  it  will  relieve  us  of  considerable 
picket  duty.  But  otherwise  cavalry  are  of  not  much 
service  in  this  brushy,  swampy  country.  That  fox  of  a 
Jeff  Thompson  that  we  chased  down  to  New  Madrid  last 
week,  had  the  impudence  to  follow  us  right  back  and  we 
had  hardly  got  our  tents  pitched  here  at  the  Point  before 
he  passed  within  12  miles  of  us  to  the  river  above,  and 
captured  a  steamboat.  Report  says  that  there  were  nearly 
a  dozen  officers  on  the  boat,  and  a  paymaster,  with  money 


44  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

to  pay  off  the  Cape  Girardeau  troops.  Jeff  is  a  shrewd  one, 
and  the  man  that  captures  him  will  do  a  big  thing.  Back 
in  the  country  where  we  were,  he  made  the  natives  believe 
that  he  whipped  Ross  and  company  at  Fredericktown,  and 
killed  400  federals  with  a  loss  of  only  ten  of  his  men. 
Don't  it  almost  make  you  sick  the  way  that  i/th  brag 
and  blow  about  themselves  ?  That  affair  at  Fredericktown 
didn't  amount  to  a  thing.  From  the  best  information  I 
can  get,  there  was  not  to  exceed  50  Rebels  killed,  and  I'm 
sure  not  that  many.  Thompson  is  stronger  to-day  than 
ever.  This  thing  of  sending  infantry  after  him  is  all  bosh, 
although  we  tried  it  again  yesterday.  It  failed  of  course. 
The  boys  came  back  through  the  rain  last  night  about  10, 
tired  and  mad  as  the  deuce.  A  thousand  cavalry  may 
possibly  get  him  some  day,  but  they  will  be  sharp  ones, 
sure.  In  this  fight  at  Belmont  1,200  of  our  men  at  first 
completely  whipped  2,400  of  theirs,  four  regiments,  then 
the  whole  of  ours,  2,600  ran  like  the  devil  before  and 
through  5,600  of  theirs.  These  are  the  true  figures. 

Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  November  24,  1861. 

Sabbath  morning,  10  o'clock. 

I'm  in  clover.  I've  got  a  great  big  "comfort,"  weighs  a  ton, 
that  has  been  sent  to  my  partner  and  myself  from  a  young 
lady  in  Bloomington.  We've  tramped  so  much  since  I  re- 
ceived that  pair  of  blankets  from  you,  and  we  never  know 
when  we  start  whether  we're  coming  back  here  again  or  no, 
that  being  unable  to  carry  them  I  sold  them.  We  have  had 
considerable  cold  weather.  Lots  of  frost,  and  for  the  last 
two  days  it  has  been  freezing  all  the  time.  We  have  always 
slept  perfectly  warm  and  getting  used  to  it  by  degrees. 

I  never  hear  anyone  complain.  Yesterday  we  made  a  furn- 
ace in  our  tent  that  works  admirably  and  now  I  wouldn't  give 
a  snap  for  any  other  winter  quarters.  This  furnace  is  a  grand 
thing.  It  keeps  our  tent  dry  and  healthy  and  is  as  comfortable 
to  me  now  as  ever  our  house  was.  Don't  trouble  yourself  in 
the  least  about  our  underclothing.  We  all  have  more  than 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  45 

we  want  and  can  get  any  quantity  at  any  time.  Other  cloth- 
ing the  same.  We  commenced  building  log  houses  for  win- 
ter quarters  this  morning.  Theo  Thornton  and  Clem  Wallace 
of  our  mess  are  up  the  river  now  cutting  logs  for  them.  We 
never  drill  Sundays,  but  for  anything  else  we  have  no  Sunday. 
We  have  no  chaplain  in  our  regiment.  Our  captain  is  reli- 
gious but  he  is  out  now  doing  as  much  work  as  any  of  the 
men.  We  can  enjoy  ourselves  very  well  here  this  winter,  but 
of  course  we  are  very  much  disappointed  in  not  getting  into 
active  service.  I  think  that  when  our  gunboats  get  here  we 
will  at  least  be  allowed  a  trial  on  Columbus,  but  you  know, 
and  I  know,  that  I  don't  know  anything  about  it.  We  have 
had  two  awful  rains  within  a  week  as  the  ponds  covered  with 
ice  on  our  parade  ground  will  testify.  The  first  one  caught 
six  of  our  boys  fifteen  miles  up  the  river  cutting  logs  for  our 
huts.  It  wet  them  beautifully.  In  camp  for  some  reason  they  had 
doubled  the  pickets,  strengthened  the  camp  guard  and  ordered 
us  to  sleep  on  our  arms.  I  think  they  were  troubled  with  the 
old  scare  again.  About  10:30  while  the  storm  was  at  its 
height  heavy  firing  commenced  all  at  once  right  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  camp.  What  a  time  there  was.  Colonel  Oglesby  got 
his  signals  ready,  regiments  formed  in  the  rain  and  the  devil 
was  to  pay  generally.  It  turned  out  that  it  was  a  green  Iowa 
regiment  that  had  just  returned  from  another  unsuccessful 
chase  after  Jeff.  'Twas  an  awful  trick  and  only  the  greenest 
troops  would  have  done  it. 

Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  December  I,  1861. 

This,  the  beginning  of  winter,  is  the  warmest  and  altogether 
the  most  pleasant  day  we  have  had  for  several  weeks.  During 
our  whole  trip  to  Bloomfield  and  back  we  had  splendid 
weather,  but  ever  since  our  return  it  has  been  at  least  very 
unsplendid.  The  climax  was  reached  day  before  yesterday 
and  capped  with  several  inches  of  snow.  I  was  up  the  river 
15  miles  at  the  time  with  a  party  loading  a  flatboat  with  logs 
for  our  huts.  We  had  a  sweet  time  of  it  and  lots  of  fun.  The 
mud  was  from  six  inches  to  a  foot  deep,  and  by  the  time  we 
got  the  logs  to  the  boat  they  were  coated  with  mud  two  in- 


46  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

ches  thick,  and  before  we  got  a  dozen  logs  on  the  boat  we 
had  a  second  coat  on  us,  from  top  to  toe  of  mud.  It  snowed 
and  rained  all  the  time  we  worked  but  I  heard  no  complaint 
from  the  men,  and  in  fact  I  have  never  seen  so  much  fun  any- 
where as  we  had  that  day.  There  is  any  amount  of  game 
where  we  were,  the  boys  said  that  were  out,  and  they  brought 
to  camp  several  skinned  "deer."  I  tried  some  of  the  "veni- 
son" but  it  tasted  strangely  like  hog. 

Of  course  drill  is  discontinued  for  the  present,  and  as  work- 
ing on  the  quarters  is  almost  impossible  we  sit  and  lie  in  the 
tent  and  gas  and  joke  and  eat  and  plan  devilment.  We  have 
a  barrel  of  apples  now,  lots  of  pecans  and  tobacco  and  not  a 
thing  to  trouble  us.  The  enemy  have  quit  coming  around 
here  and  we  can  stroll  six  or  seven  miles  without  danger  if 
we  get  past  our  pickets  safely.  There  was  a  great  deal  of 
firing  down  at  Columbus  yesterday  and  I  heard  some  more 
this  morning.  I  don't  know  whether  the  gunboats  are  down 
or  not.  It  may  be  the  Rebels  are  practicing  with  their  big 
guns ;  or  maybe  they  are  firing  a  salute  over  the  fall  of  Fort 
Pickens.  It  will  be  a  great  joke  if  they  take  that,  won't  it? 
I  believe  myself  that  they  will  take  it.  Two  of  our  new  gunboats 
came  down  day  before  yesterday.  We  will  have  in  all  12  gun- 
boats, 40  flatboats  carrying  one  mortar  each  and  15  propel- 
lers for  towing  purposes,  besides  the  steamboats  for  trans- 
porting troops.  Makes  quite  a  fleet  and  will  fill  the  river  be- 
tween here  and  Columbus  nearly  full.  There  are  not  very 
many  troops  here  now.  Only  five  regiments  of  cavalry  and 
four  or  five  batteries  of  artillery.  Not  over  12,000  in  all.  We 
have  nearly  1,000  sailors  and  marines  here  now  and  they  are 
such  cusses  that  they  have  to  keep  them  on  a  steamboat  an- 
chored out  in  the  river.  We  see  by  the  papers  this  morning 
that  the  fleet  has  captured  another  sand  bar.  A  good  one  on 
the  bar.  We  are  greatly  puzzled  to  know  if  we  really  are 
going  down  the  river  this  winter.  We  are  preparing  winter 
quarters  here  for  only  12,000  men.  Now  all  these  troops  they 
are  running  into  St.  Louis  cannot  be  intended  for  up  the 
Missouri  river,  for  the  troops  are  also  returning  from  there. 
I  don't  believe  either  that  they  intend  to  keep  them  in  St. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  47 

Louis  this  winter  for  they  have  only  quarters  provided  there 
for  a  garrison  force,  so  I  guess  it  must  mean  down  the  river, 
but  am  sure  they  won't  be  ready  before  six  weeks  or  two 
months.  We  have  a  report  here  that  Governor  Yates  is  rais- 
ing 60  day  men  to  garrison  these  points  while  we  "regulars" 
will  be  pushed  forward.  Jem  Smith  is  down  here  trying  to 
get  information  of  his  brother  Frank  who  is  a  prisoner.  There 
are  a  good  many  Rebels  deserting  now.  Our  pickets  bring 
them  into  camp.  They  are  mostly  Northern  men  who  pre- 
tend they  were  pressed  in  and  are  glad  to  escape.  Frank 
Smith  is  in  Company  A,  Captain  Smith's  company,  at  Pa- 
ducah.  It  was  Company  B,  Captain  Taylor's,  that  was  in 
the  Belmont  fight.  You  could  see  just  as  well  as  not  why  I 
can't  come  home  if  you'll  take  the  trouble  to  read  General 
Halleck's  General  Order  No.  5  or  6,  that  says,  "Hereafter 
no  furloughs  will  be  granted  to  enlisted  men/'  etc. 

We  had  a  first  rate  lot  of  good  things  from  Peoria  yester- 
day. They  were  sent  us  for  Thanksgiving  but  were  a  day  late. 
Chickens,  cranberries,  cake,  etc.  The  boys  say  that  a  Rebel 
gunboat  has  just  showed  his  nose  around  the  point  and  Fort 
Holt  is  firing  away  pretty  heavily,  but  I  guess  the  boat  is  all 
in  some  chap's  eye.  Hollins  is  down  at  Columbus  with  about 
a  dozen  vessels  of  war.  I  have  just  been  out  to  see  what  the 
boys  said  was  the  pickets  coming  in  on  the  run,  but  some  say 
its  only  a  gunboat  coming  up  through  woods,  so  I  guess  I'll 
not  report  a  prospect  of  a  fight. 

Monday,  December  2,  1861. 

While  I  was  writing  last  night  there  really  was  a  Rebel 
gunboat  came  up  the  river  and  fired  into  Fort  Holt.  Impu- 
dent, wasn't  it?  The  Fort  replied,  and  Fort  Cairo  also  shot 
a  couple  of  shells  over  our  heads  toward  the  rascals,  but  they 
fell  short.  We  could  see  the  troops  at  Fort  Holt  out  under 
arms  for  an  hour.  Taylor's  battery  went  off  down  the  Nor- 
folk road  at  a  slashing  pace  to  try  and  get  a  shot  at  the  boat 
but  was  too  late. 

It  is  very  cold  this  morning  and  snowing  again.  We  are 
perfectly  comfortable,  though. 


48  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  December  u,  1861. 

Our  cavalry  brought  in  16  prisoners  to-night,  about  10  last 
night;  a  band  of  Thompson's  men  took  a  couple  of  boys  from 
our  regiment  prisoners,  out  10  miles  from  here  at  the  water 
tank  on  the  railroad.  The  owner  of  the  house  happened  to 
be  outside  when  they  surrounded  the  house  and  he  scooted 
down  here  with  the  news,  and  by  2  o'clock  we  had  a  lot  of 
cavalry  and  infantry  en  route  for  the  scene  of  action.  The 
cavalry  started  them  out  of  the  brush  and  captured  this  16. 
The  Rebels  killed  one  of  Colonel  Oglesby's  men.  They  did  not 
recover  our  men  but  started  up  and  lost  another  gang  that 
probably  has  them. 

We  will  be  in  our  quarters  next  week  although  we  don't 
need  them.  It  is  rather  pleasant  here  now.  I  took  a  swim 
yesterday.  'Twas  confounded  cold,  but  I  wanted  to  bathe  so 
I  took  the  river  for  it.  We  haven't  had  a  man  complaining  in 
the  company  for  a  week.  We  buried  one  poor  fellow  last 
week,  but  he  would  have  died  at  home.  When  I  was  home 
last  I  weighed  142,  now  I  weigh  160.  Can  you  imagine  me. 

Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  December  22,  1861. 

This  is  a  dark,  dismal,  snowy  and  confoundedly  disagree- 
able Sunday.  Cold,  sloppy  and  nasty!  We  moved  into  our 
cabin  last  night  but  it  is  not  finished  yet,  as  a  crack  along  the 
comb  of  the  roof  and  sundry  other  airholes  abundantly  testify. 
The  half  snow  half  rain  comes  in  when  and  where  it  pleases, 
and  renders  our  mud  floor  comfortable  in  about  the  4Oth 
degree.  Don't  this  sound  like  grumbling,  Well,  I  don't  mean 
it  as  such,  for  I  am  sure  the  boys  are  as  cheery  as  I  ever  saw 
them,  and  I  wouldn't  think  of  these  little  things  except  when 
writing  home,  and  then  the  contrast  between  its  cozy  comforts 
and  soldiering  in  cold,  wet  weather  makes  itself  so  disagree- 
ably conspicuous  to  my  spiritual  eyes  that  I  can't  pass  it  un- 
noticed. Love  Hamblin  came  over  here  last  night  and  is  now 
standing  by  the  fireplace  indulging  in  an  ague  shake,  which 
if  not  pleasant  is  not  to  my  eyes  ungraceful. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  49 

No  more  troops  have  arrived  here,  and  save  the  whole  gun- 
boat fleet  being  here  there  are  no  new  signs  of  the  down-river 
trip  we  are  all  waiting  so  impatiently  for. 

Bird's  Point,  December  29,  1861. 

Your  letter  giving  us  notice  of  your  sending  a  box  came  to 
hand  yesterday  with  express  charges  inclosed.  I  shall  go 
over  to  Cairo  to-morrow  to  get  them  if  they  are  there.  I 
haven't  been  to  Cairo  for  a  month.  All  of  the  7th  cavalry  are 
on  this  side  now  and  there  are  about  a  dozen  of  them  here  all  the 
time.  Colonel  Kellogg  will  be  here  next  week.  One  company  in 
that  regiment  did  the  first  scouting  for  the  /th  this  morning. 
They  rode  out  southwest  about  15  miles  and  brought  in  22 
prisoners.  'Tis  said  there  are  two  or  three  officers  among  them, 
but  I  rather  think  they  are  only  a  lot  of  swamp  farmers.  The 
boys  got  only  three  or  four  guns  it  is  said,  and  that  is  not  more 
than  the  complement  of  one  woodsman  in  this  country.  The 
boys  think  they  have  almost  taken  Columbus.  It  was  not  our 
Canton  company.  We  are  at  last  established  in  our  quarters 
and  thoroughly  "fixed  up"  with  all  the  modern  improvements 
in  the  housekeeping  line,  coupled  with  the  luxuries  of  the  an- 
cients and  the  gorgeous  splendor  and  voluptuousness  of  the 
middle  ages.  We  have  a  chimney  whose  base  is  rock,  the  age 
of  which  man  cannot  tell,  whose  towering  top  is  constructed 
of  costly  pecan  wood  boughs  embalmed  in  soft  Missouri  mud 
cement.  We  have  a  roof  and  floor,  beds  and  door,  of  material 
carved  or  sawed  from  the  lofty  pines  of  Superior's  rock-bound 
shores.  Our  door  latch  is  artfully  contrived  from  the  classic 
cypress,  and  curiously  works  by  aid  of  a  string  pendant  on  the 
outside,  and  when  our  string  is  drawn  inside  who  can  enter? 
We  have  tables  and  chairs  and  shelves  without  number  and 
a  mantle  piece,  and,  crowning  glories,  we  have  good  big  straw 
sacks,  a  bootjack  and  a  dutch  oven.  Government  has  also 
furnished  a  stove  for  each  mess  of  15  in  our  regiment,  so  we 
have  nothing  more  to  ask  for;  not  a  thing.  This  is  just  no 
soldiering  at  all.  Its  hard,  but  its  true  that  we  can't  find  a 
thing  to  pick  trouble  out  of.  We  are  to-day  more  comfortable 


50  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

than  45  out  of  50  people  in  old  Canton.  Our  building  is 
warmer  than  our  house  at  home,  our  food  is  brought  to  us 
every  third  day  in  such  abundance  that  we  can  trade  off 
enough  surplus  to  keep  us  in  potatoes,  and  often  other  com- 
forts and  luxuries.  Within  500  yards  of  us  there  is  wood 
enough  for  10,000  for  20  years,  and — I  can't  half  do  it  jus- 
tice, so  I'll  quit.  I  borrowed  a  horse  of  the  cavalry,  Christmas, 
slipped  past  our  picket  through  to  the  brush  and  had  a  long 
ride  all  over  the  country  around  Charleston.  No  adventures 
though.  General  Paine  took  command  here  to-day.  He  is  an 
old  grannie.  We  are  glad  he  is  here  though,  for  we  will  get 
our  colonel  back  by  it.  You  can't  imagine  what  a  change  the 
last  month  of  cool  weather  has  produced  in  our  troops.  From 
a  sick  list  six  weeks  ago  of  nearly  300  in  our  regiment,  with 
65  in  the  hospital,  we  have  come  down  or  up  rather,  to  eight 
in  hospital,  and  not  over  25  or  30  on  the  "sick  in  quarters" 
list.  It  is  astonishing!  And  here  these  "damphool"  "For- 
ward to  Richmond"  papers  are  talking  about  the  fearful  deci- 
mation that  winter  will  make  in  our  ranks.  They  "don't  know 
nothing"  about  soldiering. 

January  2,  1862. 

We've  waited  patiently  until  after  New  Year  for  the  box 
of  provisions,  and  nary  box  yet.  Have  given  it  up  for  a  goner. 
We're  just  as  much  obliged  to  you  as  though  we  had  received 
it.  We  haven't  yet  eaten  all  the  tomatoes,  etc.,  that  came  with 
the  quilts.  Partly  because  we  are  too  lazy  to  cook  them,  but 
mostly  because  we  don't  hanker  arter  them.  Beans,  bacon 
and  potatoes  are  our  special  hobbies  or  favorites  rather,  and 
we  are  never  dissatisfied  on  our  inner  man's  account  when  we 
have  them  in  abundance  and  of  good  quality.  Company  H 
of  the  1 7th,  Captain  Boyd,  was  down  here  on  the  3Oth.  All 
the  boys  save  Chancy  Black  and  Billy  Stockdale  were  along. 
We  had  a  grand  time,  Nelson's,  Boyd's  and  our  boys  being 
together  for  the  first  time  in  the  war.  Yesterday,  New  Year, 
the  camp  enjoyed  a  general  frolic.  A  hundred  or  two  cav- 
alry boys  dressed  themselves  to  represent  Thompson's  men 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  5! 

and  went  galloping  around  camp  scattering  the  footmen  and 
making  noise  enough  to  be  heard  in  Columbus.  The  officers 
of  the  nth  Infantry  were  out  making  New  Year  calls  in  an 
army  wagon  with  30  horses  to  it,  preceded  by  a  splendid  band. 
The  "boys"  got  a  burlesque  on  the  "ossifers."  They  hitched 
20  mules  to  a  wagon  and  filled  it  with  a  tin  pan  and  stovepipe 
band,  and  then  followed  it  in  6o-mule  wagon  around  the  camp 
and  serenaded  all  the  headquarters. 

General  Paine  said  to-day  that  our  regiment  and  the  nth 
would  move  in  a  week,  but  I  don't  believe  it. 

Bird's  Point,  January  5,  1862. 

We  received  the  box  of  provisions  to-day  in  very  good 
order  considering  the  length  of  time  they  have  been  knocked 
about  on  the  route.  It  came  by  freight  by  some  mistake  or 
other.  The  doughnuts  were  the  only  articles  spoiled.  They 
had  moulded.  I  sent  the  box  over  from  Cairo  but  was  not 
here  when  it  was  opened,  so  that  aside  from  one  cake  labeled 
from  Aunt  Nancy,  I  don't  know  where  a  thing  conies  from. 
I  did  recognize  your  home  snaps,  too,  and  thought  there  was 
something  very  familiar  in  the  taste  of  a  mince  pie  that  I  ate, 
but  I  am  too  badly  used  up  to-night  to  be  sure  of  anything, 
and  tell  you  as  I  want  to  how  much  we  are  obliged  to  our 
good  mothers  for  their  thoughtful  care  for  us.  I  believe  every 
boy  in  our  mess  has  received  socks  and  mittens  from  home. 
One  received  them  by  mail  from  his  mother  in  New  York 
City.  At  7  this  morning  I  went  over  to  Cairo  with  50  men 
after  forage  for  our  teams.  We  stood  around  in  the  cold, 
mud  and  rain  for  five  hours  before  we  got  to  work,  and  then 
the  men  had  all  run  off  but  15  or  18  and  we  had  to  roll 
bales  of  hay  over  a  way  almost  impracticable — and  all  told, 
it  was  a  mean  job  and  used  me  up  very  near  totally. 

Ame  Babcock,  Ike  McBean,  English  and  Leary  have  been 
to  see  us  nearly  every  day  for  a  week.  Colonel  Kellogg  took 
supper  with  us  last  night.  The  gunboats  were  hammering 
away  all  day  yesterday  down  the  river,  and  after  dinner  the 
general  sent  our  company  with  four  others  from  our  regiment 

4 


52  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

and  nearly  all  of  the  ith,  with  one  day's  rations,  down  the 
river.  We  waded  about  six  miles  through  the  mud  down  the 
creek  and  then  came  back  without  knowing  what  we  went  for. 
There  are  none  of  us  that  are  sick,  but  we  don't  feel  as  well 
as  we  did  in  tents.  I  wish  we  hadn't  built  these  cabins. 

Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  January  7,  1862. 
The  colonel  and  I  were  ordered  to  report  here  to  give  evi- 
dence before  the  "Court  of  Inquiry,"  convened  to  inquire  into 
the  case  of  the  ioo,th  Illinois  Infantry  reported  for  disloyalty. 
I  started  from  Jackson  yesterday  but  had  to  lay  over  at  Grand 
Junction  last  night  waiting  for  a  train.  We  got  here  this 
p.  m.,  immediately  gave  our  evidence,  and  will  return  to-mor- 
row. Don't  know  that  they  will  do  anything  with  the  lopth, 
but  am  satisfied  that  to  prevent  its  dishonoring  our  state  it 
should  be  broken  up.  I  heard  General  Grant  say  that  if  the 
charges  were  sustained  he  would  transfer  the  loyal  men  to 
some  of  the  old  regiments,  cashier  the  officers  and  make  the 
disloyal  men  work  their  time  out  at  Alton.  Am  staying  to- 
night at  Mr.  Barney's.  He  is  a  Northern  man  and  thank 
God,  a  loyal  one.  He  built  a  portion  of  the  M.  &  C.  R.  R. 
and  most  of  the  M.  C.  R.  R..  His  wife  is  also  Northern  and 
loyal.  Have  been  very  wealthy,  but  the  war  has  reduced  them. 
They  both,  after  seven  years  in  the  South,  bear  me  out  in  the 
opinion  I  expressed  in  my  last,  of  these  Southern  people. 
They  have  lost  $50,000  worth  of  negroes  by  our  army,  but  are 
willing  to  lose  the  rest  for  our  cause.  The  army  has  all 
moved  back  to  the  M.  &  C  .R.  R.  line  except  one  division, 
Lanman's,  which  occupies  this  place.  General  Grant's 
headquarters  are  yet  here.  There  is  the  d st  state  of  af- 
fairs in  this  country  now  that  'tis  possible  to  think  of.  Every 
house  within  ten  miles  of  the  army  is  visited  about  five  times 
A  day  by  our  soldiers,  and  the  guerrillas  (both  work  on  the 
same  principles)  and  each  time  visitors  divide  with  the  family 
the  provisions  and  household  goods.  There  is  rnore  stealing 
in  one  day  here  than  the  whole  United  States  suffered  in  a 
year  before  the  war.  The  correspondent  of  the  St.  Louis 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  53 

Democrat  is  writing  on  the  same  table  with  me  for  his  paper, 
ever  and  anon  ripping  out  some  tall  oaths  because  he  was  not 
at  the  Vicksburg  battle.  We  heard  last  night,  direct,  that 
the  place  was  taken,  but  we  are  not  sure  of  it  yet.  We  have 
lost  immensely  at  that  place  but  the  gain  is  worth  it.  Trains 
are  coming  through  from  Memphis  now  and  the  army  will 
be  on  full  rations  again  shortly.  The  M.  &  O.  R.  R.  will 
not  be  running  for  ten  days  yet.  There  are  some  eight  miles 
of  the  latter  road  almost  totally  destroyed  above  Trenton, 
much  of  it  trestle  work.  The  sick  will  all  leave  here  to-night 
and  within  five  days  this  secesh  hole  (what  there  is  left  of  it) 
will  be  left  to  its  secesh  inhabitants. 

Bird's  Point,  January  10,  1862. 

Since  daylight  yesterday  morning  we  have  been  all  ready 
with  five  days'  rations  and  expecting  every  moment  the  orders 
to  fall  in  and  commence  a  march.  We  were  delayed  untill  II 
a.  m.  to-day  by  a  fog  so  dense  that  boats  could  not  run  even 
from  Cairo  to  this  point.  All  that  time  we  were  in  the  great- 
est suspense  and  after  everybody  had  conjectured  all  their 
conjectures,  we  were  yet  perfectly  in  the  dark  in  regard  to  our 
destination.  All  the  troops  here,  save  enough  for  guard  duty, 
are  going.  I  believe  I'm  within  bounds  when  I  say  that 
75,000  different  lies  have  been  circulated  here  in  the  last  36 
hours,  and  all  in  regard  to  the  present  expedition.  Well  the 
suspense  is  over  and  we  (think  we)  know  that  Columbus  is 
our  goal. 

At  n  a.  m.  to-day  the  fog  was  dispersed  by  a  cold  north 
wind,  and  immediately  two  gunboats  steamed  down  the  river, 
giving  us  the  first  intimation  of  our  route.  They  were  shortly 
followed  by  other  gunboats  and  then  by  steamers  loaded  to 
their  utmost  capacity  with  soldiers.  All  afternoon  they  have 
been  going  down.  The  last  boat  that  I  saw  was  towing  a 
couple  of  flats  loaded  with  ambulances,  or  "soldier-buggies."  I 
think  all  the  troops  have  gone  from  Cairo  and  the  boats  that 
carried  them  will  be  back  and  take  us  at  daylight  to-morrow 


54  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

noon.  I  think  they  are  landing  them  about  six  miles  this  side 
of  Columbus,  maybe  not  so  far  from  there.  General  McClern- 
and  is  taking  his  whole  stock  in  the  soldier  business  with  him. 
It's  a  permanent  thing  certain.  If  this  really  means  Columbus, 
and  I  don't  see  how  it  can  be  anything  else,  it  has  been  man- 
aged with  more  secrecy  than  any  expedition,  besides,  up  to 
this  time  in  war.  I  never  guessed  it  within  the  possibilities 
of  a  month.  These  generals,  we  have  three  of  them  here 
(Grant,  Paine  and  McClernand)  may  know  their  business, 
but  we  of  the  ranks  don't  understand  what  kind  of  truck 
20,000  men  want  with  the  army  at  Columbus.  And  10,000  is, 
I'm  sure,  considerably  outside  of  the  number  that  will  move 
from  here.  There  are  probably  10,000  more  at  Paducah,  that 
I  think  are  also  going.  Well,  maybe  we'll  get  the  place,  hope 
we  will.  If  we  don't  it  won't  be  the  men's  fault,  for  we  do 
hate  that  hole.  It's  funny  what  an  effect  this  soldiering  has 
on  men.  I  suppose  there  is  no  mistake  about  our  being  within 
two  days,  at  farthest,  of  a  great  battle,  and  yet  these  men 
don't  to  any  eye  show  a  sign  of  even  a  shadow  of  care  or  con- 
cern. Since  I  commenced  this  I  don't  believe  that  one  of  them 
has  given  it  a  thought.  To  save  my  neck  I  can't  get  up 
enough  excitement  to  kill  a  flea  or  even  to  warn  him.  The 
boys  are  almost  all  playing  cards.  Sam  Nutt  and  my  chum 
Hy  thought  they  didn't  get  enough  supper  to-night,  so  they 
put  about  a  peck  of  beans  in  to  boil  and  have  just  got  them 
in  eating  order.  I  suppose  Sam  can  plant  more  beans  than  any 
other  living  man  of  his  weight.  They  have  also  a  lot  of  pig's 
feet  between  them.  Little  Ame  Babcock  and  Ike  McBean  are 
going  with  us  to-morrow.  Colonel  Kellogg  goes  with  five 
companies  of  his  regiment.  The  Canton  company  does  not 
go.  I  am  not  real  well  now  but  I  wouldn't  miss  this  trip  to 
Columbus  to  save  my  life.  I've  had  my  heart  set  on  being  at 
that  fight  a  long  time  and  I'm  gong  if  I  can  walk  two  miles. 

January  13,  '62.  I  wrote  this  letter  and  thought  I  wouldn't 
send  it  untill  we'd  start  and  save  myself  a  chance  of  being 
fooled,  but  now  I'll  send  it  to  show  how  badly  I  was  misled. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  55 

Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  January  13,  1862. 

After  all  the  excitement  and  promise  we  have  had  of  a  trip 
into  Dixie,  we  are  still  here  in  our  cabins,  with  the  prospect 
of  a  move  further  off  than  ever.  The  25,000  troops  that  are 
"on  their  way  from  St.  Louis  to  Cairo"  must  have  went  up  in 
a  fog.  General  Grant  must  have  credit  for  fooling  everybody 
from  the  reporters  up.  He  did  it  beautifully.  We  all  here 
at  this  point  kept  our  wagons  loaded  for  two  days  with  five 
days'  rations,  expecting  to  start  every  hour.  The  troops  have 
all  left  Cairo  and  gone  down  opposite  Norfolk  (where  we 
were  a  month)  and  camped.  It  is  cold  as  the  devil,  and  they 
must  suffer  a  good  deal  as  none  of  them  have  ever  been  out  of 
Cairo  before,  and  hardly  know  what  rough  soldiering  is. 
Charley  Cooper's  company  is  with  them.  I  believe  that  the 
whole  object  of  the  expedish  is  to  keep  the  Columbians  from 
sending  reinforcements  to  the  Bowling  Green  folks._  The  dis- 
patches about  the  25,000  forward  movement,  etc.,  all  work  to 
the  same  end.  Some  "damb'd"  hounds  shot  four  of  our  7th 
cavalry  boys  dead  a  couple  of  mornings  since.  It  was  regu- 
lar murder.  They  were  on  picket  and  in  the  evening  they 
went  out  some  seven  miles  from  camp  and  got  their  supper 
and  engaged  breakfast  in  the  morning.  Just  before  daylight 
they  started  out  for  breakfast  and  when  within  two  miles  of 
the  place  three  men  that  were  concealed  behind  a  log  by  the 
roadside  shot  them  all  dead.  Their  horses  wheeled  and 
trotted  back  to  the  infantry  picket.  The  infantry  sent  word  to 
camp  and  some  cavalry  went  out  and  found  them  all  dead. 
They  could  find  tracks  of  but  three  men,  and  it  is  supposed  that 
they  ran  as  quick  as  they  fired,  for  our  boys'  bodies  were  not 
touched.  They  were  only  armed  with  sabers  and  the  7th  re- 
fuse to  go  on  any  more  picket  duty  untill  they  are  better 
armed.  One  of  the  murdered  was  Dan  Lare,  a  boy  that  was 
in  Canton  a  good  while,  though  I  believe  he  did  not  belong 
to  Nelson's  company.  The  others  lived  near  Bushnell,  their 
names  I  do  not  know.  We  have  the  chap  they  took  supper 
with.  The  boys  all  think  him  guilty  and  have  tried  to  get  him 
away  from  the  guard  to  kill  him,  but  unsuccessfully  so  far. 


56  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Last  night  Nelson's  company  went  up  to  old  Bird's  and 
brought  him,  his  three  sons  and  five  other  men  and  all  Bird's 
buck  niggers  down  to  camp  as  prisoners.  They  also  got  10 
good  guns.  His  (Bird's)  house  is  four  miles  from  camp. 
Some  of  the  boys  noticed  a  long  ladder  leaning  against  the 
house  and  one  of  them  climbed  it  and  got  on  the  housetop. 
There  he  found  a  splendid  ship  spy  glass  with  which  he  could 
count  the  tents  and  see  every  move  in  both  our  camp  and 
Cairo  and  Fort  Holt.  Old  Bird  is  a  perfect  old  pirate  and  a 
greater  does  not  live. 

Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  January  20,  1862. 

It  goes  confounded  good  once  more  to  stand  on  boards, 
and  be  able  to  sit  down  without  wet  coming  through  a 
fellow's  pants.  If  I  write  and  tell  you  where  we've  been, 
you  won't  read  it,  and  if  I  don't  write  all  about  it  you'll 
scold,  so  of  the  two  I'll  choose  the  first  and  tell  you  all  I 
know.  We  got  on  the  steamer  "Aleck  Scott"  last  Tues- 
day morning  with  five  days'  rations  and  started  down 
the  river  through  very  heavy  floating  ice.  'Twas  a  very 
cold  day  and  full  three  inches  of  snow  lay  on  the  ground. 
We  landed  at  Fort  Jefferson  and  camped  for  the  night.  By 
some  mismanagement  our  tents  and  equipage  failed  to 
come  and  we  had  to  cook  the  bacon  we  had  in  our  haver- 
sacks on  sticks  over  the  fire,  for  supper,  and  sleep  out  on 
the  snow,  without  tents  to  protect  us  from  the  wind.  That 
was  a  sweet  old  night!  Next  day  we  shouldered  our 
knapsacks,  blankets  all  wet  by  a  rain  from  2  to  5  in  the 
morning,  and  awful  heavy,  and  tramped  about  ten  miles 
in  a  southeast  direction,  through  Blanville,  Ballard 
County ;  and  camped  on  Mayville  Creek.  Again  we  lay 
on  the  snow  and  frozen  ground  with  feather  beds  of  brush, 
and  at  9  next  morning  started  on  the  road  to  Columbus. 
We  went  out  to  Little  Meadows  which  is  about  eight  or  nine 
miles  from  Columbus,  and  halted.  Taylor's  battery  was 
with  us  and  they  now  unlimbered  and  planted  their  guns 
to  cover  all  of  the  four  or  five  roads  which  lead  from  here 
to  the  river.  McClernand's  brigade  of  six  or  seven  regi- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN   ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  57 

ments,  and  Cook's  of  two  regiments,  were  in  advance  of 
us  with  1,000  cavalry,  and  I  think  that  we  acted  here  as  a 
reserve,  for  them  to  fall  back  on  if  repulsed  in  a  fight. 
We  waited  here  two  hours  and  then  formed  again  and 
returned  to  our  camp  of  the  previous  night.  It  had  turned 
warm  by  this  time  and  the  slush  was  six  inches  deep  on 
our  backward  march.  Slept  in  the  mud  that  night  and 
remained  in  camp  all  next  day,  during  which  it  rained 
every  hour.  Friday  night  it  rained  in  a  small  way  all  the 
time,  and  in  the  morning,  (if  you  remember  when  you  have 
too  many  clothes  in  a  tub  of  water  how  the  water  will 
"slosh"  when  you  press  the  clothes)  you'll  understand 
my  "condish."  I  had  my  blanket  spread  on  some  stiff 
brush,  and  Mr.  Aqua  surrounded  brush,  and  every  time 
Wills  turned,  brush  would  bend  and  water  would  slosh 
and  blanket  would  leak  and  upshot  was,  Wills  was  damb'd 
wet,  but  too  spunky  to  get  up  until  he'd  had  his  nap. 
Saturday  we  got  out  of  "provish,"  and  at  I  p.  m.  we  struck 
tents,  and  thought  we  were  off  for  home  sure.  But 
we  only  marched  back  a  few  miles  and  camped  at  Elliott's 
Mills.  Here,  by  orders  from  the  colonel,  we  killed  two 
hogs  for  the  company,  and  he  took  what  cornmeal  we 
wanted  from  the  mill,  and  we  supped  sumptuously.  Here 
although  the  mud  was  deep  we  slept  finely.  There  was  a 
cypress  swamp  near  and  the  bark  can  be  torn  into  the 
finest  shavings.  That  was  just  as  good  as  we  wanted. 
Sunday  we  started  for  the  river  and  of  all  the  marches, 
that  beats !  We  waded  through  at  least  eight  streams 
from  one  to  two  feet  deep  and  five  to  ten  yards  wide. 
I  had  shoes,  and  after  wading  the  first  stream,  I  cut  all 
the  front  upper  off  to  let  the  water  out  handier.  I  made 
it  gay  and  festive  after  that.  Object  of  expedish,  don't 
know,  don't  care,  only  know  that  it  did  me  good.  I  feel 
TOO  per  cent  better  than  I  did  when  I  started.  Col.  Eitt 
Kellogg  has  brought  me  my  commission  as  ist  lieutenant 
in  his  regiment,  and  I  am  adjutant  in  the  3d  batallion, 
Major  Rawalts.  I  go  to  Cape  Girardeau  the  last  of  this 
week. 


58  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 


II. 

February  3,  1862  to  June  29,  1862.  Brisk  cavalry  service.  Collecting 
the  bones  of  murdered  Union  men.  Some  of  the  horrors  of  war. 
Hankering  after  his  old  regiment.  Fighting  Jeff  Thompson  and 
the  Rebel  gunboats.  State  jealousies  among  the  troops.  Capture 
of  New  Madrid.  Hunting  bushwhackers  in  the  swamps.  Rebuilding 
destroyed  bridges.  Bullies  and  plunderers.  Good  and  bad  luck. 
Spectacular  artillery  and  gunboat  duel.  Embarking  down  the  river. 
Sent  back.  Skirmishing  in  front  of  Pope's  command.  Beaure- 
gard's  return  reconnaisance.  Halleck's  unfathomable  waiting  policy. 
Rear-guarding  Pope's  division.  Intruding  on  a  Rebel  dinner  party. 
Sufferings  of  the  sick.  Encounter  with  secesh  ladies.  Lizards, 
snakes  and  scorpions  for  company.  Appointed  assistant  adjutant 
general  of  brigade.  Evacuation  of  Corinth.  A  masterly  retreat. 
Skirmish  fights  with  the  retreating  Rebels.  Dress  parade  of  brigadier 
generals.  Forcible  opinions  from  Rosecrans.  Makes  acquaintance 
with  snuff-dipping.  General  Beauregard's  "toddy  mixer." 

Headquarters,  3d  Battalion,  7th  Illinois  Cavalry, 

February  3,  1862. 

I  am  pretty  sure  that  we  will  start  on  a  scout  to-morrow 
that  will  give  us  a  ride  of  150  miles.  From  the  knowledge  I 
have  of  it  believe  that  we  are  going  to  raise  the  devil  before  we 
get  back  or  get  raised  ourselves.  There  are  only  about  300  of  us 
going,  but  we  are  all  cavalry  and  are  going  fast,  will  make 
our  mark  and  then  return  probably  at  the  same  gait.  We  are 
going  pretty  close  to  New  Madrid,  into  a  hot  place,  where  a 
long  stay  would  not  be  pleasant.  I  believe  there  are  300  or 
400  men  about  70  miles  from  here  guarding  commissary 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  59 

stores.  We  are  going  to  try  and  surprise  them  and  destroy 
the  goods,  kill  what  we  can  of  the  secesh  "and  get  out  o'  that." 
It  will  be  my  first  scout  horseback  but  I'm  going  if  it  busts  me. 
This  is  one  of  Colonel  Kellogg's  ideas  and  looks  more  like  work 
than  anything  I  have  tried  yet.  It's  awful  rough  weather  to 
start  out  in  but  that  makes  it  more  favorable  for  us.  Well,  I 
have  got  over  the  hardest  part  of  soldiering,  though  I  doubt  if  I 
enjoy  myself  as  well  as  I  did  in  the  ranks.  I  never  in  my 
life  spent  nine  months  more  pleasantly  than  those  I  passed  in 
the  "8th."  We  had  some  rough  times,  but  good  health  and  good 
company  made  them  as  pleasant  as  and  often  happier  than 
life  in  quarters.  I  disliked  very  much  to  leave  the  boys  I  had 
been  with  so  long  and  knew  so  well,  but  cupidity  and  ambition 
got  the  better  of  the  just  resolves  I  made  never  to  leave  them 
untill  the  war  was  over.  John  Wallace,  Fred  Norcott  and  my 
chum,  Hy  Johnson,  I  did  hate  to  leave.  They'll  get  along  just 
as  well  though  after  they  have  forgotten  us.  My  chances  for 
a  lieutenancy  in  that  company  were  first  rate  but  I  have  got 
a  better  thing,  and  without  so  much  walking.  You  never  saw 
a  gladder  boy  than  Sam  was  when  he  found  himself  safe  out 
of  the  infantry.  He  couldn't  begin  to  hold  his  body.  I  sup- 
pose he  and  Keefer  are  having  very  gay  times  all  by  them- 
selves. Sidney  and  I  concluded  that  our  best  policy  was  to 
stay  here  and  I'm  glad  I  did  so,  although  I  would  have  liked 
a  visit  home  more  than  I  can  tell.  If  we  can  manage  it  so  as 
to  get  off  together  some  time  this  spring  we  will  do  so,  but  I 
have  little  hopes  now  of  seeing  you  untill  the  war  is  over.  The 
major  (Rawalt),  Seavy,  Billy  Resor  and  myself  mess  together. 
We  have  the  wife  of  one  of  the  men  cooking  for  us  and  are 
living  as  well  as  I  want  to,  in  regular  home  style.  White  table- 
cloth, white  ware  and  a  fork  and  spoon  for  every  man.  Warm 
biscuits  and  excellent  coffee  every  meal.  My  duties  are  light 
and  not  many  of  them.  All  writing.  We  live  in  a  house,  too. 
My  health  is  booming  again.  That  trip  brought  me  out  ail 
right.  This  is  a  splendid  place  to  camp  in — high,  healthy  and 
beautiful.  There  are  lots  of  pretty  girls  here  too,  that  smile 
very  sweetly  on  shoulder-strapped  soldiers,  but  well,  you  un- 


6O  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

derstand  me.  I  have  Billy  Stockdale,  Trites,  Chancey,  Geo. 
Shinn,  Jesse  B.  and  the  rest  of  the  Canton  boys  in  the  I7th 
and  they  are  all  in  excellent  health.  Chancey  will  be  home  in 
a  few  days  I  think.  He  is  second  lieutenant  in  the  Fairview 
Company  now.  Billy  Stockdale  is  sergeant  major.  Trites  is 
romantic,  enthusiastic  and  desponding  as  ever.  Major  Rawalt 
is  one  of  the  best  officers  there  is  in  the  service.  He  and  I 
will  get  along  splendidly.  We  are  really  off  in  the  morning, 
and  for  a  2OO-mile  march.  There  will  be  fun  before  we  get 
back. 

Cape  Girardeau,  February  9,  1862. 

I,  like  a  good  boy,  wrote  you  a  long  letter  yesterday,  and,, 
like  a  careless  fellow,  lost  it.  I  told  you  in  it  how  we  "300" 
of  us,  left  here  in  the  p.  m.  of  last  Monday,  rode  all  night  and 
at  daylight  made  a  desperate  charge  into  Bloomfield  where 
we  found  and  captured  nothing.  How  a  little  party  of  15 
of  our  boys  were  surprised  some  eight  miles  beyond  Bloom- 
field  by  80  Rebels  and  one  of  them  captured,  one  badly 
wounded  and  another's  horse  shot  and  he  at  last  accounts 
running  in  the  swamps.  How  the  major  got  together  his 
men  and  went  out  and  captured  some  20  of  the  bushwhackers 
and  killed  five  and  how  he  returned  to  the  Cape,  etc.  You 
have  read  about  this  riding  and  marching  all  night  until  I 
expect  you  hardly  think  of  its  being  fatiguing  and  somewhat 
wearing  on  the  human  system,  etc.,  but  allow  me  to  assure 
you  that  it  is.  Novice  as  I  am  in  riding,  the  cold  and  fatigue 
were  so  severe  on  me  that  I  slept  like  a  top  horseback,  although. 
I  rode  with  the  advance  guard  all  the  time  and  through  coun- 
try the  like  of  which  I  hope  you'll  never  see.  There  is  a 
swamp  surrounding  every  hill  and  there  are  hills  the  whole 
way.  Damn  such  a  country.  We  passed,  a  small  scouting 
party  of  us,  the  bones  of  seven  Union  men.  They  were  all 
shot  at  one  time.  I  didn't  go  with  the  party  to  see  them.  One 
of  our  guards  went  out  with  a  party  of  nine  of  the  i/th  In- 
fantry boys  and  captured  some  20  secesh  and  brought  in,  in 
a  gunny  sack,  the  bones  of  five  other  Union  men.  I  noticed 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  6l 

there  were  no  skulls  and  asked  the  guide  where  they  were. 
He  said  that  "as  true  as  truth  the  secesh  who  murdered  them 
had  taken  the  skulls  to  use  for  soup  bowls."  I  was  talking 
with  a  man  to-night  who  had  his  two  sons  shot  dead  in  the 
house  by  his  side  last  week.  A  gang  of  fellows  came  to  the 
house  while  he  was  eating  supper  and  fired  through  between 
the  logs.  He  burst  open  the  door  and  escaped  with  but  one 
shot  in  him  after  he  saw  that  his  sons  were  killed.  I  can 
hardly  believe  that  these  things  are  realities,  although  my  eyes 
and  ears  bear  witness.  In  my  reading  I  can  remember  no 
parallel  either  in  truth  or  fiction  for  the  state  of  things  we 
have  in  this  southeastern  portion  of  Missouri.  Anyone  can 
have  his  taste  for  the  marvelous,  however  strong,  glutted  by 
listening  to  our  scouts  and  the  refugees  here.  I  thank  God 
from  my  heart  that  dear  old  Illinois  knows  nothing  of  the 
horrors  of  this  war.  The  I7th  left  here  yesterday  for  Fort 
Henry.  The  boys  were  very  glad  to  start.  The  old  8th  was 
there  with  the  first.  I  almost  wish  I  had  stayed  with  her. 
Without  bragging  or  prejudice  I  am  satisfied  that  the  8th  is 
the  best  in  every  respect  of  the  whole  100  regiments  I  have 
seen  and  has  the  best  colonel.  Colonel  Kellogg  is  now  com- 
manding the  post  and  Sid.  is  "A.  A.  A.  General,"  and  I  am 
"A  Regimental  Adjutant."  My  duties  are  light,  though,  and  I 
am  in  tip-top  health.  That  ride  didn't  hurt  me  at  all.  I  can 
stand  riding  with  the  best  of  them.  I  suppose  that  Sam  will 
be  with  us  soon.  I  hope  our  regiment  will  be  ordered  to 
Kentucky.  I  believe  I'd  rather  be  shot  there  than  to  bush- 
whack around  in  Missouri  much  longer.  The  major  and  I 
will  get  along  capitally.  He  stands  fatigue  equal  to  any  of 
us.  He  and  I  took  a  ride  of  30  miles  alone  through  the 
swamps  the  other  day.  Send  my  watch  the  first  chance  you 
have. 

Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  February  14,  1862. 
Sam  arrived  here  to-night  and  brought  me  everything  I 
could  wish  for  except  my  watch.    Jem  Harper  from  Company 
K  is  home  on  furlough  and  we  expect  him  now  shortly,  also 


62  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Benton  Spencer.  If  you  could  manage  to  send  the  watch 
by  one  of  them  I  would  be  much  obliged.  I  cannot  well  get 
along  without  one  now.  You  seem  to  be  very  happy  about  my 
getting  away  from  the  Point.  Rather  more  so  than  I  am 
myself.  If  I  had  stayed  there^  I  would  have  been  with  a  fair 
chance  to  fight — to  fight  soldiers.  Here  there  are  no  forces 
to  fight  but  a  few  hundred  bushwhackers  that  will  lie  by  the 
roadside  in  the  swamp,  and  I  believe  they  would  murder  Jesus 
Christ  if  they  thought  he  was  a  Union  man.  We  failed  in 
doing  what  we  wanted  to  the  last  trip,  but  I  believe  we'll  get 
even  with  them  yet.  I'd  hate  mightily  to  get  killed  by  such 
a  pack  of  murderers,  but  that  isn't  my  business.  If  U.  B.  and 
father  have  experienced  such  trips  as  we  have,  I'll  bet  I  beat 
them  in  one  thing — enjoying  them.  I  always  feel  better  out 
that  way  than  in  camp.  The  nth  Missouri  is  still  with  us 
and  the  I7th  has  gone  to  Tennessee.  The  colonel,  Ross,  picked 
out  50  or  60  of  his  most  worthless  men  and  put  them  on  the 
gunboats.  There  are  some  hopes  that  our  regiment  will  be 
ordered  to  Kentucky  soon  or  to  Wheaton,  Mo.,  for  there  is 
a  regiment  of  Missourians  here  forming  that  will  be  sufficient 
to  guard  this  vicinity.  This  place  if  not  entirely  secession  is 
very  strongly  southernly  righteous.  I  am  getting  acquainted 
with  the  female  population  slowly,  not  very,  and  one  family 
of  three  girls  tell  me  they  are  positively  the  only  unconditional 
Union  women  in  town.  But  the  others  show  nothing  of  the 
cold  shoulder  to  us.  They  are  all  very  friendly  and  sociable. 
Quite  a  number  of  beautiful  girls  here.  The  aristocracy  here 
are  all  Catholic.  Funny,  isn't  it?  Frenchy. 

Headquarters  7th  Illinois  Cavalry, 
Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  February  19,  1862. 
Aren't  things  working  right  now?    Do  you  notice  the  ac- 
counts of  the  old  8th,  and  will  you  say  again  that  I  got  out 
of  her  ranks  at  the  right  time?     I  knew  that  the  8th  would 
never  make  her  colonel   (God  bless  him!)   to  blush,  or  dis- 
honor her  friends  or  herself.    I  have  seen  only  the  St.  Louis 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  63 

papers  of  i8th  with  very  meager  dispatches,  but  enough  to 
know  that  she  had  the  "post  of  honor"  and  plenty  of  fighting. 
Two  hundred  of  them  with  Major  Post  are  prisoners.  I'll 
bet  my  life  Company  E  is  not  among  them.  If  the  Rebels  will 
keep  the  major  and  exchange  the  men  the  regiment  will  gain. 
If  I  was  in  the  8th  yet  and  knew  what  I  do  now  I  wouldn't 
leave  her  for  any  commission  there  is  in  this  post.  I've  got 
a  good  easy  place  here  and  have  the  good  will  of  everybody 
around  me,  but  my  soul  and  sympathies  are  with  the  8th,  and 
it  makes  me  sick  to  think  what  a  fool  I  was  to  leave  her.  I'll 
be  shot  if  I  don't  love  that  regiment  more  than  I  do  the  whole 
world  beside.  I  never  thought  of  it  so  much  untill  I  got 
away.  I  expect  some  of  our  boys  of  my  old  mess  are  killed, 
but  its  all  right,  "military  necessity,"  somebody  has  to  go 
under.  Eight  or  nine  boatloads  of  prisoners  have  passed  here 
to-day.  They  look  a  little  better  than  our  Missouri  prisoners 
but  are  not  uniformed,  although  comfortably  dressed. 

Commerce,  Mo.,  February  25,  1862. 

We  start  to-morrow  morning  for with  from  25,000 

to  40,000  men,  who  are  all  piled  up  here  in  all  kinds  of 
shifts.  Our  regiment  takes  the  advance.  At  a  venture 
I'll  bet  we  get  whaled,  by  vastly  superior  forces.  Good- 
night. 

Near  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  March  6,  1862. 
What  oceans  of  fun  we  are  having  here.  Here  goes 
for  all  of  it  to  date,  and  I'll  be  lucky  if  I'm  able  to  tell  you 
the  finale.  We  went  down  to  Commerce  the  26th  of  Feb- 
ruary. Troops  were  scattered  everywhere  over  the  town 
and  vicinity  for  15  miles  about.  Could  form  no  idea  of  the 
number  there,  but  it  was  variously  estimated  at  from  15,- 
ooo  to  45,000.  On  the  28th  we  started,  our  regiment  in 
advance,  and  camped  that  night  at  Hunter's  farm,  the  same 
place  we  stopped  last  fall  when  going  to  Bloomfield  under 
Oglesby.  We  reached  Hunter's  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  and  at 
II  the  same  morning  Jeff  Thompson  had  been  there  wait- 


O4  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

ing  for  us  with  six  pieces  of  cannon.  He  skedaddled,  but 
still  kept  in  the  neighboring  swamps.  The  next  morning 
we  again  started  in  advance  and  after  a  ride  of  five  miles 
heard  firing  about  the  same  distance  ahead.  We  let  the 
horses  go  and  in  a  very  short  time  were  within  the  limits 
of  the  muss.  We  came  up  with  a  company  of  cavalry 
from  Bird's  Point  standing  in  line  at  the  end  of  a  lane, 
about  a  mile  down  which  we  could  see  Thompson's  forces 
drawn  up  with  his  artillery  "in  battery."  He  saw  us  about 
as  quick  as  we  got  up,  and  limbered  up  in  double  quick 
and  scooted.  Then  the  fun  commenced.  We  chased  him 
for  15  miles  over  a  splendid  straight,  wide,  level  road, 
which  he  strewed  with  blankets,  guns,  hats,  and  at 
last  dropped  his  artillery.  A  dozen  of  our  boys  kept  up 
the  chase  until  within  a  half  mile  of  New  Madrid,  where 
they  captured  a  wagon  load  of  grain  and  a  nigger,  and 
returned  at  leisure.  We  caught  a  captain,  ist.  lieutenant 
and  some  privates.  Next  day,  the  2d  of  March,  our  regi- 
ment went  down  to  New  Madrid  to  reconnoiter.  A  regular 
colonel  went  along  to  draw  a  map  of  the  country.  We 
went  it  blind  right  into  the  edge  of  town,  where  we  ran 
onto  a  lot  of  infantry.  As  fighting  wasn't  the  object,  we 
filed  off  to  the  left  into  a  cornfield  to  get  a  new  view  of 
town.  We  were  going  slowly  down  on  the  town  in  line 
of  battle,  when  a  battery  opened  on  us  right  smartly.  We 
got  out  of  that,  but  in  good  order.  Only  one  shell  touched 
us  and  that  burst  right  under  a  horse's  nose.  One  piece 
bruised  the  horse  a  little  and  knocked  the  rider  off,  but 
did  not  hurt  the  man  at  all,  and  the  horse  is  now  fit  for 
duty  again.  Almost  miraculous,  wasn't  it?  There  were 
lots  of  shell  and  balls  fell  around  us.  On  the  3d  the  whole 
army  got  here  and  we  again  marched  on  the  burg.  The 
gunboats  opened  on  us  and  we  had  to  draw  back.  That 
day  three  64-pound  shells  burst  within  30  yards  of  me. 
We  have  been  lying,  since  then,  about  two  miles  from 
town.  They  throw  a  shell  over  here  occasionally  but 
haven't  hurt  any  body  yet  at  this  distance.  To-day  the 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  65 

cavalry  have  been  out  again  to  see  if  the  gunboats  have 
left,  (that's  all  that  keeps  us  from  taking  the  town).  The 
boats  were  still  there  and  again  shelled  us,  killing  one 
man  and  a  horse  in  the  Michigan  3d.  They  killed  one 
man  on  the  3d  in  the  39th  Ohio,  and  the  same  shell 
wounded  several  others.  Yesterday  2,000  or  3,000  men 
went  around  New  Madrid  down  the  river  ten  miles  to 
Point  Pleasant,  but  were  kept  off  by  the  damned  gun- 
boats, just  like  we  are  here.  If  two  or  three  of  our  gun- 
boats could  only  slip  down  far  enough  to  see  their  gunboats 
(two  of  them)  and  steamboats  coming  and  going  with 
their  secesh  flags  flying.  They  have  burned  a  half  dozen 
houses  in  town  since  we  came  here.  Don't  know  what  for. 
Brigadier  General  Pope  who  is  in  command  here  has  been 
made  a  major  general.  The  colonel  has  just  come  from  his 
quarters,  and  reports  that  Foote  will  be  here  with  his 
gunboats  day  after  to-morrow  at  farthest.  We  have  been 
scouting  all  afternoon  and  I'm  blamed  tired.  I  took  four 
men  and  went  it  alone.  Had  a  good  time  but  got  lost  and 
didn't  get  back  until  8  p.  m.  Captured  a  lot  of  ginger 
snaps,  and  had  a  good  talk  with  a  handsome  widow,  while 
the  boats  were  firing  at  the  Michigan  cavalry  on  our  left. 
These  shells  don't  scare  a  fellow  half  as  much  as  the 
thoughts  of  them  do.  Why  you  really  don't  mind  it  at  all. 
I  don't  like  the  idea  of  those  musket  balls,  but  maybe  that 
is  also  worse  than  the  reality. 

Yet  near  New  Madrid,  March  12,  1862. 

The  enemy  are  separated  from  us  by  only  a  few  corn- 
fields, the  country  is  perfectly  plain ;  we  can  see  from  our  tent 
door  the  smoke  stacks  of  their  gunboat,  and  the  music  of  their 
bands  mingles  with  our  own  and  yet  'tis  confounded  dull. 

I  received  a  letter  from  you  by  mail  a  few  days  since.  The 
colonel  and  Sid.  and  myself  take  a  little  ride  into  the  country 
most  every  evening  for  mush  and  milk  and  'tis  astonishing 
what  quantities  they  do  eat.  We  are  all  in  perfect  health 
and  good  spirits,  though  since  we  left  Commerce  the  colonel 


66  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

and  major  have  complained  considerably  about  the  fare,  but 
'tis  better  than  I'm  used  to,  so  I  have  the  advantage  of  them. 
The  evacuation  of  Manassas,  Columbus,  etc.,  have  caused 
considerable  anxiety  for  the  outburst  of  these  forces  which  we 
think  will  be  on  Buel  or  maybe  further  east  on  our  little  army 
at  the  Cumberland  Gap.  The  impression  here  is  that  the  Rebel 
army  at  this  place  has  been  greatly  reinforced  since  we  ar- 
rived here  from  Kentucky.  We  number  though,  full  30,000 
(with  a  brigade  that  is  now  advancing  to  join  us)  and  feel 
fully  able  to  attend  to  all  of  their  forces  here.  General  Pope 
told  our  colonel  yesterday  that  Foote  would  be  here  within 
48  hours  sure  with  his  gunboats,  and  that's  all  we  ask. 

There  is  a  review  now  being  made  of  all  the  troops  here  by 
the  commanding  general.  You'd  think  it  quite  a  spectacle, 
wouldn't  you,  to  see  25,000  troops  in  line;  3,000  of  them  cav- 
alry and  36  pieces  of  artillery.  I  was  left  in  charge  of  the 
camp,  and  although  I  have  my  horse  at  hand  saddled  wouldn't 
mount  him  to  see  them.  It's  funny  how  all  interest  in  any- 
thing dies  away  in  a  person  when  they  have  a  full  view  or 
chance  to  view  the  object.  We  hear  a  dozen  volleys  of  mus- 
ketry every  now  and  then,  and  although  we  all  know  there's 
been  a  little  fight,  it  doesn't  interfere  with  conversation  and 
nine  times  out  of  ten  we  never  hear  what  caused  it.  But 
go  up  to  the  hospital  and  you'll  find  a  couple  of  long  rows 
of  cots,  each  with  an  occupant,  and  they  can  tell  you  of  the 
shooting  and  show  a  wound  that  they're  prouder  of  than  you 
can  imagine.  They  and  their  regiments  that  were  under  fire 
love  to  tell  it  over  and  over,  but  the  rest  of  the  army,  through 
jealousy  I  believe,  never  mention  it.  You'll  see  a  vast  deal 
of  state  pride  here.  The  7th  Cavalry  don't  acknowledge  the 
Michigander  troopers  to  be  more  than  the  equals  of  Jeff 
Thompson's  scalawags,  and  the  Michigan  boys  really  seem  to 
think  that  the  7th  regiment  is  not  equal  to  one  company  of 
,theirs.  But  I  notice  the  generals  here  have  all  taken  their 
bodyguards  from  our  regiment.  The  Illinois  boys  and  the 
lowaians  coalesce  more  readily  and  seem  to  have  more  family 
feeling  between  them  than  at  least  either  of  these  state's 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  67 

troops  have  for  those  of  other  states.  'Tis  the  same  in  the 
Southern  army.  Arkansas  and  Missouri  troops  have  a  mutual 
hatred  for  each  other  that  has  extended  to  the  citizens  of 
these  states.  This  part  of  Missouri  goes  a  great  deal  on  old 
blood,  the  best  variety  I  believe  is  Catholic  French,  and  these 
people  have  a  sovereign  contempt  for  the  barbarians  of  the 
"Arkansaw,"  while  the  Arkansawans  accuse  the  Missourians 
of  toe-kissing  proclivities  and  cowardice. 

New  Madrid,  "by  Jingo,"  March  14,  1862. 
Night  before  last  we  received  four  heavy  guns  from  Cairo, 
and  two  or  three  of  these  infantry  regiments  planted  them 
during  the  night  within  a  half  mile  of  the  enemy's  main  fort 
and  within  three-fourths  of  a  mile  where  their  gunboats  lay. 
The  seceshers  discovered  it  at  daylight  and  then  the  fun  com- 
menced. Their  gunboats  and  forts,  about  30  or  40  pieces  in 
all,  put  in  their  best  licks  all  day.  We  had  two  regiments  lying 
right  in  front  of  our  guns  to  support  them  against  a  sortie, 
and  several  other  regiments  behind  ready  for  a  field  fight. 
The  enemy  kept  in  their  works  though  and  it  was  altogether 
an  artillery  fight.  Our  regiment  was  in  the  saddle  all  the 
a.  m.,  but  in  the  p.  m.  we  lay  around  our  quarters  as  usual 
with  not  a  particle  more  of  excitement  perceptible  than  the 
quietest  day  in  Cairo  showed.  In  the  evening  the  colonel  and 
Major  Case  and  myself  went  out  in  the  country  for  our 
regular  little  mush  and  milk,  but  that  hasn't  anything  to  do 
with  the  story.  The  firing  ceased  about  an  hour  after  sunset 
and  we  turned  in  for  the  night  with  all  quiet  in  camp.  About 
2  o'clock  this  morning  three  Rebel  regiments  made  a  little 
sortie  with  the  intention  of  doing  some  devilment,  but  they  ran 
against  a  field  battery  of  ours  that  sent  them  back  kiting.  This 
morning  the  fort  and  town  were  found  to  be  evacuated.  I 
rode  down  through  what  is  left  of  the  town,  for  the  Rebels 
burned  many  houses  to  give  their  guns  a  better  chance  at 
the  approaches,  and  cut  down  nearly  all  of  the  shade  trees. 
There  was  not  an  inhabitant  left  in  town,  they  all  moved  out 
before  we  came  here,  and  every  door  was  open.  The  Rebels 

5 


68  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIEfc. 

I  think  plundered  the  town  after  the  citizens  left ;  anyway  our 
boys  grumbled  a  good  deal  about  the  people's  leaving  nothing 
in  their  houses.  They  went  away  very  badly  scared  and  in 
an  awful  huffy,  for  there  were  tables  with  wine  on,  and  cards 
and  beds  that  had  been  Used  last  night  and  blankets,  and  they 
left  all  their  heavy  artillery.  They  must  have  had  all  of  their 
light  artillery  With  the  horses  hitched  to  it  and  harnessed,  and 
a  lot  of  horses  saddled  and  tied,  for  the  halters  cut  with  the  ties 
left  on  the  posts,  showed  that  they  were  in  too  much  of  a  hurry 
to  untie.  They  also  left  all  their  tents,  some  500,  standing, 
most  all  of  them  as  good  as  the  best  of  ours,  and  barracks  for 
several  regiments,  quarters  in  all  for  probably  lo,ooo  men,  the 
generals  say,  but  I  don't  think  they  will  hold  so  many.  I  think 
we  got  40  guns,  24's  and  larger,  besides  some  field  pieces.  We 
also  get  a  big  lot  of  amunition,  lots  of  mules  and  wagons,  and 
the  boys  are  now  fishing  out  of  the  river  whole  boxes  of  quar- 
termaster's goods— clothing,  blankets,  etc.,  that  the  secesh  rolled 
in  as  they  ran.  The  general  is  better  satisfied  than  if  he  had 
taken  them  prisoners.  Coming  back  from  the  town  and  fort 
I  tode  ovef  the  ground  where  the  balls  lit  thickest  yesterday. 
They  had  scratched  things  around  considerably-^barked  trees, 
knocked  fences,  busted  a  house  or  two,  plowed  ground  like 
everything,  and  by  the  way,  knocked  six  of  our  men  for  keeps, 
and  wounded  horribly  about  15  more.  That  was  all  that  was 
done  yesterday.  'Tis  astonishing  that  no  more  of  our  men 
were  killed  but  you  must  recollect  that  these  infantrymen  that 
were  supporting  our  batteries  lay  in  trenches  and  were  all 
killed  while  well  covered,  comparatively.  One  ball  struck 
square  in  the  trench  and  relieved  one  man  of  two  legs  and 
another  man  of  one.  I  saw  one  man  who  had  been  struck  by 
a  falling  25-pound  solid  shot  in  the  centre  of  his  breast  and 
went  down  and  out  at  the  small  of  his  back.  That  was  a  pretty 
hard  sight.  While  they  were  firing  the  hottest  our  boys  would 
jump  on  their  little  dirt  piles  in  front  of  the  rifle  pits  and 
trenches  and  swing  their  hats  and  cheer  and  drop  back  into 
their  ditches  very  rapidly.  A  shell  18  pounds  fell  about  20 
feet  in  front  of  the  ditches,  and  a  boy  of  12  or  14  years  jumped 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  69 

out  and  grabbed  it  up  while  the  fuse  was  still  burning.  A 
soldier  saw  it  and  hollered  at  him  to  drop  it  and  scoot,  but 
he  hadn't  time  to  get  away,  so  he  dropped  it  and  threw  him- 
self flat  with  his  feet  toward  it  and  almost  then  it  burst,  but 
harmlessly.  Well,  we've  got  Madrid  and  enough  to  pay  us 
for  our  trouble.  I  think  that  our  loss  will  be  covered  by  20 
killed  and  35  or  40  wounded  in  the  whole  two  weeks.  That's 
a  large  estimate.  What  the  next  move  will  be  have  no  idea, 
but  some  say  that  we'll  cross  the  river  and  operate  with  Grant 
in  a  southerly  direction  of  course.  I'd  rather  be  in  this  down- 
the-river  movement  than  any  other  part  of  the  army.  Have 
thought  so  ever  since  I  joined  the  army.  This  cavalry  business 
is  bully.  We  have  all  the  running  around  and  fun  and  little 
skirmishing  without  much  of  the  heavy  work  and  tall  fight- 
ing. The  loss  of  the  enemy  we  don't  know  but  there  are  about 
40  fresh  graves  at  the  fort  and  we  found  several  dead  bodies 
there  this  morning.  Also  found  a  half  dozen  men  that  were 
left  by  some  means. 

Near  Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  March  18,  '62. 
You  see  we  are  creeping  along  down  the  river  surely  if 
the  motions  are  a  little  slow.  This  is  about  12  miles  below 
Madrid  and  said  to  be  75  or  80  below  Cairo.  It  is  said  that 
the  Rebels  have  between  a  dozen  and  20  steamboats  above  here, 
and  I  think  the  object  in  occupying  this  point  and  planting 
artillery  here  is  to  make  the  assurances  we  have  of  catching 
them,  doubly  sure,  for  the  river  is  considerably  less  in  width 
here  than  where  our  guns  are  at  and  near  Madrid.  We  re- 
ceived orders  to  march  about  sunset  last  night  and  started  at 
tattoo.  'Twas  a  beautiful  ride.  The  road  lay  for  nearly  the 
whole  distance  right  along  the  river  bank.  'Twas  warm  enough 
without  overcoat  or  gloves  and  Commander  Foote  added  to 
the  interest  of  the  ride  by  his  sleep-disturbing  music  up  at 
Island  10.  The  river  makes  a  horseshoe  bend  here  and  Island 
lo  lays  almost  directly  east  of  here  across  the  peninsula.  The 
neck  is  very  flat,  and  we  could  plainly  see  the  flash  of  every 
gun  and  see  the  bombs  burst  in  the  air  when  more  than  20 
or  30  yards  from  the  ground.  The  roar  of  the  13  and  i6-inch 


7O  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

mortars  is  truly  terrific.  There  was  no  difficulty  in  disting- 
uishing their  reports  from  the  cannons.  The  evidences  of  an 
earthquake  having  performed  in  this  country  are  visible  when 
pointed  out.  The  natives  will  show  you  a  swamp  and  say 
that  was  once  inhabitable,  and  then  they'll  point  out  a  sand 
ridge  about  four  feet  nearer  heaven  (the  surface  of  course) 
and  say  that  was  a  swamp.  Well,  we  arrived  here  at  2  o'clock 
last  night  and  moved  nearly  two  miles  back  from  the  river  to 
be  out  of  range  of  a  battery  the  enemy  have  planted  on  the 
opposite  shore.  This  two  miles,  after  deducting  about  300 
yards  where  the  road  runs  through  the  little  town,  was  a 
swamp  of  mud  and  water  to  the  horses'  bellies.  I  noticed  our 
flag  flying  on  the  river  bank  over  an  inverted  Rebel  rag.  The 
flag  staff  was  in  front  of  a  store  that  had  received  three  can- 
non shots  from  the  Rebels  in  their  efforts  to  cut  down  our 
flag.  Nearly  every  house  in  town  has  had  one  or  more  doses 
of  heavy  iron  and  several  have  been  burned  by  shells.  Gen- 
eral Palmer  is  five  miles  below  here  with  his  brigade.  He 
was  lucky  enough  yesterday  to  disable  two  Rebel  gunboats 
out  of  three  that  attacked  him.  I  am  very  anxious  to  get  out 
of  this  country  and  into  Tennessee  if  possible,  or  if  we  have 
to  stay  on  this  side,  enough  below  the  swamps  to  make  it  a 
little  more  pleasant.  That  ride  of  last  night  was  delicious. 
The  order  was  to  march  without  any  unnecessary  noise,  and 
after  10:30  (it  was  2  when  we  got  here),  the  boys  were  all 
perfectly  quiet,  many  of  them  asleep,  and  I  believe  I  enjoyed 
myself  better  than  I  ever  did  before  in  my  life.  Can't  begin 
to  tell  you  precisely  why,  except  there  might  have  been  some 
air-castle  building,  but  'twas  very  pleasant.  I  hear  to-night 
that  Island  10  was  evacuated  last  night.  Think  maybe  Foote 
has  his  hands  full  up  there,  and  doubt  the  evacuation  idea 
some.  Gracious  how  it  rained  last  night,  commenced  just 
after  we  got  here,  with  some  awful  heavy  thunder  and  don't 
know  how  long  it  lasted.  Twas  raining  to  kill  when  I  went 
to  sleep.  We  had  no  tents  with  us  and  every  fellow  provided 
for  himself.  I  went  to  bed  with  a  lot  of  bacon  and  a  barrel 
under  a  tent  fly  and  slept  a  la  log.  To-day  it  has  been  real 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  71 

warm.    Shirt  sleeves  and  shade  were  in  requisition.    Well,  I'll 
write  you  a  little  every  day  until  I  can  send  letters. 

Twentieth. — To-day  'tis  cloudy  and  we  have  fire  in  the  tent 
and  I  wear  my  cloak  besides.  There  are  no  news  of  any  kind  to- 
day. We  are  on  a  little  piece  of  dry  land  here  (some  of  the 
earthquake's  "get  up"  I  suppose)  entirely  surrounded  by 
swamps  of  the  vilest  kind,  cane  and  cypress.  We  have  dug 
wells  all  through  camp.  Find  plenty  of  water  at  five  feet. 
The  Rebel  battery  across  the  river  has  been  trying  to  shell 
us  this  morning.  They  sent  some  shell  plenty  far  enough  but 
they  lit  off  to  the  right  of  our  camp.  General  Plummer  rides 
down  along  the  river  bank  with  his  staff  every  day  and  the 
Rebels  do  their  best  to  send  him  up.  The  colonel  has  just 
started  out  with  him  to  give  the  Rebels  another  chance.  There 
is  considerable  cane  here  and  it  looks  as  though  the  country 
might  grow  alligators  to  almost  any  extent.  'Tis  a  grand 
country  for  a  sporting  man.  The  very  paradise  of  geese  and 
their  kindred. 

Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  March  24,  1862. 
It's  only  9  a.  m.,  and  didn't  get  to  bed  until  2  this 
morning,  so  if  I  do  not  talk  rational  you  will  excuse  me. 
That  isn't  the  excuse  either.  I  rode  50  miles  between  9 
a.  m.  yesterday  and  midnight  over  roughest  road.  Two 
hundred  of  us  were  sent  out  after  that  d — d  Jeff  Thomp- 
son. We  exchanged  shots  with  his  pickets  20  miles  from 
here,  and  chased  them  four  miles  farther.  The  last  eight 
miles  was  a  pike  only  eight  feet  wide,  thrown  up  through 
an  immense  swamp,  and  planked.  The  water  came  so 
close  to  the  planks  that  there  was  not  a  place  in  the  whole 
eight  miles  where  a  horse  dare  step  off  the  plank.  The 
total  of  all  the  unusual  sights  I  ever  saw  wouldn't  begin 
to  count  one  in  effect  where  that  road  and  swamp  will 
ten.  There  are  two  good  sized  rivers  running  through 
the  swamp  but  they  have  to  be  pointed  out  to  you  before 
you  can  see  them,  or  rather  distinguish  them  from  the  rest 
of  the  swamp.  When  we  first  saw  these  pickets  they  were 


72  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

tearing  up  a  culvert.  We  hurried  up  and  after  each  side 
fired  four  or  five  rounds  they  ran,  No  one  hurt  here,  al- 
though the  distance  was  not  more  than  60  yards.  Andy 
Hulit,  my  sergeant  major  and  myself  were  the  advance 
guard,  but  J  have  no  carbine,  and  did  not  get  to  shoot, 
but  this  didn't  seem  to  make  any  difference  to  them  for 
they  threw  buckshot  round  me  quite  promiscuously.  Well, 
we  fixed  up  that  bridge  and  pressed  on,  but  they  tore  down 
so  many  bridges  that  we  could  go  but  slowly.  Just  before 
the  fight  I  had  dropped  back  a  dozen  files  to  get  out  of 
building  any  more  bridges,  and  when  our  boys  saw  the 
secesh,  they  had  just  finished  destroying  another.  The 
horses  couldn't  cross  it,  but  the  boys  dismounted  and 
hurrying  across  on  foot,  made  them  take  to  the  swamp 
in  water  waist  deep,  where  they  hid  themselves  behind 
logs,  vines  and  a  kind  of  high  grass  that  grows  in  bunches 
as  large  as  a  currant  bush.  When  they  had  concealed 
themselves  to  their  notion,  they  commenced  firing  at  us, 
and  of  the  first  four  of  our  boys  over  the  bridge  (Andy 
Hulit  led  them),  three  were  down,  wounded  in  a  minute. 
We  then  charged  (on  foot)  right  into  the  brush  and  water, 
some  of  the  boys  up  to  their  armpits,  and  made  them 
scoot.  They  did  not  number  over  20  but  their  advantage 
was  enormous,  We  dropped  two  of  them  certain,  and — 
I  don't  think  any  more.  Of  four  of  our  men  they  wounded, 
three  were  Company  L  boys.  The  two  Cockerel  brothers, 
Mathew  and  Royal,  and  Eugene  Greenslit.  The  other  was 
from  Company  A.  The  Company  A  boy  and  Mat  Cockerel 
died  before  we  got  them  to  camp.  Royal  has  a  flesh  wound 
in  the  arm,  and  Greenslit  is  shot  in  the  foot,  both  slight 
wounds.  We  drove  the  Rebels  clear  off,  and  captured  two 
horses,  and  all  their  blankets,  overcoats  etc.  About  15 
miles  out  we  came  to  Little  River.  While  the  major  was 
examining  the  bridge,  we  saw  a  half  dozen  men  running 
through  a  swamp  on  the  other  side.  Over  the  bridge  we 
went,  and  into  the  mud  and  water  after  them.  We  got 
them  all.  I  captured  a  couple  in  a  thicket.  Andy  Hulit 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  73 

came  up  a  few  minutes  after  and  we-  had  work  to  keep  a, 
lot  of  boys  from  shooting  them,  while  we  were  taking 
them  back  to  the  river.  Well,  that  was  a  pretty  rough  trip 
and  I  don't  hanker  after  another  like  it,  although  the  ex- 
citement is  rather  pleasant  too.  But  being  set  up  for  a 
mark  on  a  road  where  there  is  not  a  sign  of  a  chance  to. 
dodge,  and  having  the  marksman  completely  concealed 
from  you,  and  this  other  fix  of  letting  them  throw  shells 
at  you  when  your  carbine  won't  carry  to  them,  sitting 
on  horseback  too,  I  wish  it  understood  I'm  opposed  to 
and  protest  against,  although  I  never  think  so  until  I  get 
back  to  camp.  I  don't  think  that  I  ever  get  a  bit  excited, 
over  firing,  but  I  know  that  I  don't  look  at  danger  the 
same  when  under  fire  that  I  do  when  in  quarters.  We  are 
all  well  and  I'm  getting  fat  every  day.  It  bores  considera- 
bly here  to  think  that  that  one  horse  Island  No.  10  won't 
come  down  and  surrender  like  a  ^gem'men."  Some  of  the 
officers  here  think  that  we'd  better  be  getting  out  "o'  this," 
but  I  propose  to  let  Pope  work  out  the  salvation  of  this 
division.  We  started  from  Commerce  in  General  Hamil- 
ton's division,  were  put  in  General  Granger's  at  Madrid, 
and  are  now  in  General  Plummer's.  Well,  I'm  going  to  do 
a  little  sleeping. 

Camp  near  Point  Pleasant,  Mo,,  March  26,  1862. 
It  is,  to-day,  very  much  warmer.  I'm  altogether  too 
hot  to  be  comfortable  in  my  shirt  sleeves.  Don't  know 
what  is  to  become  of  us  in  July  if  it  is  so  hot  in  proportion. 
I  shake  in  my  boots  at  the  thought  of  the  mosquitoes,  flies, 
etc.,  we  will  have  to  endure.  Vegetation  is  giving  the  sur- 
roundings a  greenish  appearance  already,  and  have  seen 
a  peach  tree  in  nearly  full  bloom.  Wheat  is  about  three 
or  four  inches  above  ground.  Makes  a  very  respectable 
sod.  I  think  there  are  more  Union  people  here  than  in 
any  part  of  Missouri  that  I  have  been  in,  and  fewer 
widows.  Men  are  nearly  all  at  home  and  putting  in  their 
crops  as  coolly  as  though  there  was  no  war.  Some  of  our 


74  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

soldiers  impose  on  the  natives  pretty  badly.  You  don't 
know  how  thankful  you  ought  to  be  that  you  don't  live 
in  the  invaded  country.  Wherever  there  is  an  army,  for 
10  or  15  miles  around  it  there  will  be  hundreds  of  strag- 
glers. Some  out  of  curiosity,  some  to  see  the  natives  and 
talk  with  them,  but  the  majority  to  pick  up  what  they  can 
to  eat.  There  is  not  a  farm  house  within  ten  miles  of 
camp,  notwithstanding  the  positive  orders  against  strag- 
gling, that  has  not,  at  least,  50  soldier  visitors  a  day,  and 
they  are  the  poorest  soldiers  and  the  meanest  men  that  do 
all  the  straggling,  or  nearly  all.  They  will  go  into  a  house 
and  beg  what  they  can  and  then  steal  what  is  left.  Rough, 
dirty,  coarse  brutes,  if  they  were  all  shot,  our  army  would 
be  better  off.  Most  of  these  fellows  are  bullies  at  home, 
and  that  class  makes  plunderers  in  war.  I've  seen  enough 
of  war  to  know  that  it  isn't  the  brawling,  fighting  man  at 
home  that  stands  the  bullet  whistle  the  best.  A  favorite 
game  of  these  chaps,  where  they  are  not  utterly  depraved 
(there  are  a  good  many  of  the  latter),  is  for  a  couple  of 
them  to  go  in  the  house  and  make  themselves  as  interest- 
ing as  possible  while  the  others  clean  out  the  smokehouse, 
chicken  yard,  and  the  premises  generally.  The  greatest 
objection  and  the  only  one  I  have  to  being  in  the  army, 
is  the  idea  of  being  associated,  in  the  minds  of  the  people 
of  this  country,  as  well  as  the  home  folks,  with  such  brutes. 
But  I  tell  you,  that  I  have  always  acted  the  gentleman  to 
the  best  of  my  ability  since  I  entered  the  army,  and  I  don't 
believe  I'm  a  whit  worse  than  I  was  at  home.  I  haven't 
drank  one-tenth  as  much  liquor  as  I  did  in  the  same  length 
of  time  at  home,  and  you  know  how  much  that  was,  and 
that  I  hate  the  stuff  too  much  to  ever  taste  it  unless  forced 
upon  me.  The  last  I  touched  was  with  poor  George  Shinn 
just  before  the  i/th  left  the  cape.  We  drank  to  "Our  next 
shake  hands,  may  it  be  at  the  end  of  the  war,  at  home,  and 
before  three  months."  George  was  a  No.  I  soldier.  We 
boys  all  think  everything  of  him.  Tell  him  we  all  sympa- 
thize with  him  and  wish  him  a  speedy  recovery,  and  that 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  75 

his  services  may  not  be  needed  any  more.  Seems  to  me 
I  write  you  nearly  every  day,  but  haven't  had  a  letter 
from  home 'for  two  or  three  weeks.  Our  mail  is  very  ir- 
regular though,  and  I  can  excuse,  but  I  would  like  you  to 
get  all  of  mine  and  save  them,  for  I  would  like  to  look 
these  over  myself  when  I  get  home,  as  I  keep  no  diary. 
The  day  is  so  warm  that  our  boys  are  all  out  bathing  in 
a  little  swamp  lake  near  here.  The  Lord  knows  some  of 
them  need  it.  Cleanliness  is  undoubtedly  the  best  preven- 
tive of  disease  in  the  army.  Hardly  any  of  the  boys  that 
are  cleanly  suffer  from  disease.  The  colonel  and  Sidney 
went  to  Cairo  yesterday.  The  colonel  with  dispatches 
from  General  Pope,  I  believe,  and  Sid.  just  because  he 
could.  We  buried  our  two  boys  yesterday  morning  that 
were  killed  at  Cane  Bridge,  and  I  never  felt  sadder  in  my 
life.  I'm  sure  that  knowing  I  would  be  killed  to-morrow 
wouldn't  hurt  me  half  as  much.  These  poor  fellows  have 
suffered  all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  the  private  soldier's 
life,  and  are  now  put  under  the  ground  in  the  dark  swamp, 
without  a  friend  here,  save  their  comrades,  and  probably 
after  the  army  leaves,  a  friendly  eye  will  never  see  their 
graves.  I  sent  a  package  of  letters  back  to  a  young  lady 
that  one  of  them  was  engaged  to.  Our  men  have  been 
living  on  mush  and  the  other  messes,  makeable  from  corn- 
meal,  for  a  week,  without  coffee  or  anything  else.  Couldn't 
get  provisions  through  from  Cairo  near  fast  enough,  and 
Pope  gobbled  up  everything  that  did  come  for  the  troops 
at  Madrid.  Chet.  Caswell,  a  Canton  boy,  is  here  now  and 
cooking  for  our  mess.  I  can  live  on  fried  mush  as  long 
as  the  next  man.  The  frogs,  bugs,  blackbirds  and  sich  like, 
keep  up  a  perfect  bedlam  around  us  the  whole  time. 

Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  March  28,  1862. 

There  isn't  a  thing  to  write  only  that  they  keep  up  the  in- 
fernal "boom,  boom,"  with  their  cannons  all  day  and  night 
long.  It's  perfectly  disgusting  the  way  they  waste  powder 
and  iron  without  killing  anyone.  They  have  knocked  every 


76  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER, 

house  in  town  to  flinders,  and  round  shot  and  grape  and  shell 
are  lying  thick  on  the  ground  and  yet  we  haven't  a  man 
touched.  They  were  having  a  hot  time  with  their 'cannon  and 
some  musketry  firing,  too,  down  at  Palmer's  last  night  from 
10  p.  m.  to  2  a.  m.,  but  haven't  heard  yet  what  was  up.  I 
have  my  own  reasons  for  thinking  that  they  are  evacuating 
Island  10.  If  they  don't  do  it  this  week  I'll  believe  that  they 
are  waiting  for  a  lot  of  gunboats  to  come  up  from  Orleans, 
and  that  we'll  have  the  fun  of  a  naval  engagement  in  the  vicin- 
ity. If  there  is  one  within  40  miles  of  here  I'm  going  to  see 
it  if  I  have  to  wade  a  swamp  ten  feet  deep,  as  I  probably  will, 
but  see  it  I'm  bound  to.  Then  if  the  Rebels  whale  our  craft 
you'll  be  likely  to  hear  the  sound  of  their  cannon  before  long 
without  leaving  home,  for  there's  nothing  to  prevent  their  go- 
ing anywhere  after  they  pass  our  gunboats.  It  will  be  a  great 
joke  on  Uncle  Sam  if  they  do  make  that  riffle.  Wonder  what 
would  become  of  the  home  guards.  About  the  worst  feature 
of  the  case  would  be  the  Southern  officers  sparking  our  girls 
as  we  do  theirs  now  and  the  worst  yet  is,  there  is  no  doubt 
the  girls  would  take  to  it  kindly,  for  they  do  here,  and  I'm 
satisfied  there  is  no  difference  in  the  feminines  of  the  two 
sections,  except  that  ours  do  not  say  "thar"  and  "whar."  I 
see  that  it  requires  a  good  many  "ifs"  and  "theirs"  to  arrange 
a  case  of  this  kind,  but  I  assure  you  that  it  is  not  out  of  the 
range  of  possibilities.  How'd  you  like  to  see  a  "Captain  St. 
Clair  de  Monstachir"  with  C.  S.  A.  on  his  buttons,  making 
calls  in  Canton?  I'll  bet  ten  to  one  he  could  enjoy  himself  in 

that  burg.    Bang !    Boom !    D n  the  cannons !    It's  awful 

tiresome.  I  do  hope  we'll  get  them  cleaned  out  of  this  ere 
long,  I  don't  understand  why  it  is  that  our  mails  are  so  tardy. 
We  get  the  Chicago  and  St.  Louis  papers  two  days  after  pub- 
lication. I  almost  think  that  Pope  has  ordered  our  mail  to  lay 
over  in  Cairo  until  further  orders. 

Camp,  near  Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  April  4,  1862. 
I  received  your  last  letter  within  three  days  after  it  was 
mailed,  and  praised  Uncle  Sam  duly  therefor.     Our  regiment 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  JJ 

has  had  a  run  of  bad  luck  since  we've  been  here.  Two  men 
killed  on  the  plank  road,  two  wounded  at  same  place,  two 
killed  by  falling  trees  in  a  storm  of  night  of  April  ist,  and  a 
dozen  wounded,  and  yesterday  one  drowned  while  watering 
his  horse  in  the  swamp,  and  our  horses  dying  off  very  fast  of 
horse  cholera.  The  latter  is  a  serious  thing  in  a  regiment 
were  the  men  own  the  horses  themselves.  For  they  (or 
nearly  all  of  them)  cannot  buy  others.  Most  of  them  are  still 
owing  for  the  horses  they  have.  The  positions  of  troops  and 
state  of  the  war  generally  remains  the  same  here  as  it  has 
been  ever  since  we  took  Madrid.  Main  body  of  our  forces  at 
that  place.  Five  regiments  here  under  Plummer  and  five 
seven  miles  further  down  the  river  with  Palmer.  That  is  as 
far  down  as  we  can  go  on  this  side  for  the  swamps.  Between 
here  and  Madrid  we  have  batteries  every  three  miles  and  the 
Rebels  have  rather  more  on  the  opposite  side.  Both  are  right 
on  their  respective  banks  and  have  their  flags  fluttering  their 
mutual  hatred  in  each  others  faces.  We  can  see  them  very 
plainly  without  the  aid  of  a  glass.  The  Rebel  gunboats  lie  just 
below  our  lower  battery  and  'tis  rumored  to-night  that  sev- 
eral new  ones  have  arrived  from  Memphis  or  New  Orleans. 
This  fuss,  about  "Island  10"  I  think  is  all  humbug.  Don't 
believe  they  have  attacked  it  yet.  It  don't  sound  like  Footers 
fighting.  Look  on  the  map  and  see  what  a  nice  pen  there 
is  between  the  rivers  Tennessee  and  Mississippi.  Don't  it  look 
that  if  Grant  and  company  can  whip  them  out  at  Corinth,  that 
we'll  have  all  the  forces  at  Memphis  and  intermediate  points 
to  "Island  10"  in  a  bag  that  they'll  have  trouble  in  getting 
through?  If  they  run  it  will  be  into  Arkansas,  and  they  can 
take  nothing  with  them  but  what  their  backs  will  stand  under. 
Seems  to  me  that  the  plans  of  the  campaign  are  grand  from 
the  glimpses  we  can  get  of  them  and  have  been  planned  by  at 
least  a  Napoleon.  Certain  it  is  we  are  checkmating  them  at 
every  point  that's  visible.  I  firmly  believe  the  summer  will 
see  the  war  ended.  But  it  will  also  see  a  host  of  us  upended 
if  we  have  to  fight  over  such  ground  as  this.  It  is  unpleasantly 
warm  already  in  the  sun.  It's  10  p.  m.  now  and  plenty  warm 


7§  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

in  my  shirt  sleeves,  with  a  high  wind  blowing,  too.  We  had 
an  awful  storm  here  to  commence  April  with.  We  are  camped 
just  in  the  wood's  edge  and  the  wind  struck  us  after  crossing 
a  wide  open  field  and  knocked  trees  down  all  through  our 
camp ;  killed  First  Lieutenant  Moore,  one  private,  seriously 
wounded  Captain  Webster  and  a  dozen  men.  During  the 
storm  I  though  of  our  fleet  at  "Island  10"  and  it  made  me 
almost  sick.  Don't  see  how  they  escaped  being  blown  high 
and  dry  out  of  water. 

April  5,  1862. — One  of  our  boys  has  just  returned  from 
Madrid  and  says  he  saw  our  gunboat  Cairo  there.  She 
slipped  by  the  batteries  at  "Island  No.  10"  in  the  storm 
last  night.  Mosquitoes  here  already. 

Headquarters  7th  Illinois  Cavalry, 

In  a  very  fine  House, 

Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  April  7,  1862. 
If  this  isn't  fine  your  brother  is  incapable  of  judging. 
Cozy  brick  house,  damask  curtains,  legged  bedsteads, 
splendid  tables  and  chairs,  big  looking  glass,  and  every- 
thing just  as  fine  as  a  peacock's  tail.  I  do  wish  you  could 
have  been  with  me  the  last  two  days.  They've  been  two 
of  the  best  days  of  my  life.  During  the  storm  of  Saturday 
night,  the  5th  instant,  one  of  the  gunboats  ran  by  "Island 
10."  I  heard  of  it  early  Sunday  morning,  and  got  out  a 
pass  for  Andy  Hulit  and  myself  to  look  for  forage,  in- 
tending, of  course,  to  ride  down  to  the  river  and  watch  the 
gunboat  as  we  knew  there'd  be  fun  if  she  attempted  to  run 
below  Madrid.  We  rode  up  the  river  about  six  miles  (half 
way)  to  a  point  that  extends  into  the  river  on  our  side, 
and  got  there  just  as  the  boat  did.  'Twas  the  "Carondelet," 
and  indeed  she  looked  like  an  old  friend.  The  sight  of  her 
did  me  more  good  than  any  amount  of  furloughs  could. 
At  this  point,  I  spoke  of,  we  have  three  batteries  within  a 
half-mile,  and  there  were  two  Rebels'  batteries  visible 
right  at  the  water's  edge,  opposite.  We  just  got  there  in 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  79 

time  to  see  the  ball  open.  Besides  the  two  secesh  batteries 
visible,  they  opened  from  four  others  masked  by  the  brush 
and  trees,  and  hitherto  unknown  to  us.  Their  six,  our 
three,  the  gunboats,  all  firing  together  made  by  far  the 
grandest  thing  I  ever  witnessed.  I  suppose  there  were 
from  30  to  40  guns  used,  and  at  least  a  half  thousand  shots 
fired.  Andy  and  I  were  on  a  little  rise  of  ground  a  couple 
of  hundred  yards  from  our  main  battery  and  where 
we  could  see  every  shot  fired  and  its  effect.  There  were 
lots  of  shots  fell  around  that  battery,  but  none  near  enough 
us  to  be  disagreeable.  About  an  hour's  fighting  silenced 
the  Rebel  batteries,  and  that  fun  was  over.  Our  boat 
didn't  go  over  to  them  at  that  time,  but  came  into  our  shore 
and  laid  up.  She  was  not  struck  once,  nor  was  there  a  man 
hurt  on  our  side.  Andy  and  I  rode  out  in  the  country  and 
got  our  dinners  with  a  friend  of  mine,  and  about  3  p.  m. 
started  home.  We  just  got  back  here  as  the  gunboat  was 
preparing  to  attack  the  batteries  immediately  opposite 
here.  She  ran  down  the  river  on  our  side,  a  mile  below 
their  guns,  and  then  turning  her  bow  square  toward  the 
enemy,  started  for  them  and  commenced  firing.  We  could 
see  every  motion  of  the  Rebel  gunners  plainly,  and  they 
worked  like  men,  until  the  boat  got  within  about  300 
yards  of  them,  when  they  broke,  and  I  tell  you  they  used 
their  legs  to  advantage ;  all  but  one  and  he  walked  away 
with  his  arms  folded  perfectly  at  ease.  There's  an  im- 
mense sight  of  enjoyment  in  witnessing  such  fights  as 
these.  Well,  I  saw  another  fight  this  morning,  but  'twas 
too  far  off  for  interest,  after  what  I  saw  yesterday.  Two 
more  gunboats  came  down  last  night  in  the  rain  and  dark- 
ness past  the  island.  This  fight  this  morning  was  com- 
menced by  the  Carondelet,  on  a  five-gun  battery,  only  four 
miles  below  and  across  from  Madrid.  She  called  the 
Louisville  to  her  aid,  and  then  one  walked  up  on  the  bat- 
tery from  below  and  the  other  from  above.  It  is  grand 
to  see  these  gunboats  walk  into  the  enemy.  They  go  at 
them  as  though  they  were  going  right  on  land,  if  the 
Rebels  would  stay  there.  (One  hour  later,  9  p.  m.) 


80  ARMY  LIFE  OP  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Just  as  I  finished  the  last  period,  an  artillery  captain 
came  dashing  up  through  the  door,  just  from  Madrid,  and 
wanted  to  know  where  the  gunboats  were.  He  said  that 
the  Rebel  floating  battery,  that  has  been  lying  at  Island 
lo,  was  floating  down  and  the  transports  were  afraid  to 
try  and  bring  her  into  land,  and  he  wanted  to  notify  the 
gunboats  so  they  could  catch  her.  We  told  him  they  had 
gone  down  to  Palmer's  division,  six  miles  below,  and  away 
he  went.  I've  been  out  waiting  to  see  her  pass,  but  she 
hasn't  arrived  yet,  He  said  she  was  not  more  than  three 
miles  above.  All  such  items  help  to  make  soldiering  inter- 
esting. Our  three  transports  have  taken  2o,ooo  troops  over 
into  Tennessee  since  9  130  this  a.  m.  I  call  that  good  work. 
Colonel  Kellogg  has  gone  over  with  Pope  to  see  the  battle,  if 
there  is  any.  These  Rebels  don't  begin  to  fight  a  gun  equal 
to  our  boys,  and  all  the  people  here  say  so.  I  really  do 
not  believe  they  have  the  "bullet-pluck"  that  our  men 
show.  Our  regiment  is  left  here  alone  in  its  glory.  We're 
occupying  the  town,  enjoying  life,  and  having  all  the  fun 
We  want.  I  killed  a  mosquito  to-night,  and  it  brought  up 
such  disagreeable  thoughts  that  I  couldn't  eat  supper.  If 
they  don't  eat  my  surplus  flesh  off  me,  I  know  I'll  fret 
myself  lean  as  they  increase.  The  colonel  got  back  yester- 
day. You  ought  to  have  seen  him  look  at  the  eatables  last 
night,  and  shaking  his  head  with  disgust,  go  back  to  his 
tent  without  touching  a  bite.  The  first  camp  meal  after 
a  furlough  I  suppose  isn't  particularly  delightful.  There's 
no  telling  whether  there'll  be  a  fight  to-morrow  or  not. 
We'll  probably  not  assist  if  there  is.  But  after  the  fight 
is  over  and  the  victory  won  we'll  come  in  and  chase  the 
Rebels  until  they  scatter.  The  infantry  do  the  heavy, 
dirty  work  and  get  the  honor,  and  we  have  all  the  fun 
and  easy  times  there  are  going.  I'm  willing.  I'd  rather 
scout  and  skirmish  than  anything  I  know  of,  and  am  per- 
fectly willing  to  let  the  infants  do  the  heavy  fighting,  for 
they  only  make  an  artillery  target  of  us  when  We're 
brought  on  battle  field*. 


AftMV  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  8l 

There  wouldn't  be  much  left  of  my  letters  if  I'd  leave 
out  the  war  gossip !  Forty  of  the  Rebels  deserted  and 
came  to  our  gunboats  to-day,  Sergeant  Wells,  who  while 
over  there  18  a  spy,  was  taken  prisoner  the  other  day,  es- 
caped to  our  gunboats.  It  saved  his  neck. 

April  lo.— The  Rebels  have  run  and  left  Island  10,  and 
our  boys  have  taken  some  2,000  of  them  prisoners  below 
here.  They  passed  up  on  a  boat  this  morning.  We  will 
be  paid  off  to-day  or  to-morrow. 

Camp  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  April  12,  1862. 
I  have  the  extreme  happiness  to  inform  you  that  there  is  at 
last  a  hope  of  my  dating  the  next  letter  from  Memphis  or 
vicinity.  Our  regiment  has  for  several  days  been  alone  at 
Point  Pleasant  and  we  enjoyed  it  very  much.  When  we  are 
under  a  general  of  an  infantry  division  we  are  run  to  death 
or  thereabouts,  for  whenever  anything  is  to  be  done  the  cavalry 
is  sure  to  be  called  on.  Yesterday  we  Were  ordered  to  re- 
port here  immediately  to  General  Granger,  commanding  cavalry 
division  which  numbers  full  4,000.  There  are  two  brigades 
in  this  division;  Colonel  Kellogg  commands  the  ist  brigade 
and  therefore  is  now  a  brigadier  general.  There  have  been 
about  25  steamboats  arrived  here  since  4  p.  m.  yesterday  and 
the  army  will  probably  commence  embarking  to-day.  It  will 
take  full  60  boats  to  hold  us  all.  The  rain  has  been  falling  in 
torrents  ever  since  we  started  from  the  Point  yesterday,  and 
you  can  imagine  the  time  we  had  pitching  tents  in  a  corn- 
field, and  yet  we  are  comfortable  now  as  we  can  wish.  I 
have  faith  to  believe  that  they  (or  anybody  else)  can't  keep 
me  from  being  comfortable  under  any  circumstances,  if  my 
hands  are  loose  and  I  can  walk.  I  think  that  Pope's  hurry  is 
caused  by  his  fear  that  Grant  and  company  will  reach  Mem- 
phis before  him.  We  hardly  think  that  the  Rebels  will  make 
a  stand  at  Pillow,  Randolph  or  Memphis  if  the  news  from 
Corinth  is  correct.  I'm  almost  afraid  to  look  over  the  list  of 
dead  that  fight  was  made.  Sid.  says  he  is  sure  Billy  Stock- 
dale  is  killed.  We  received  papers  of  the  loth  last  night  but 


82  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

are  not  sure  the  victory  is  a  complete  one  yet.  I  can't  think 
of  the  point  where  the  enemy  will  make  another  stand  if  they 
are  perfectly  whipped  at  Corinth. 

I  know  as  many  people  here  as  in  Fulton,  almost,  and  I 
have  yet  to  hear  the  first  insulting  speech  or  word  to  me. 
"What  are  they  going  to  do  with  Island  No.  10  I  wonder; 
I  am  afraid  that  Commander  Foote  and  his  gunboats  are  a 
humbug."  Aren't  you  ashamed  of  that  speech?  Damn  the 
New  York  Tribune.  I  do  believe  in  McClellan  and  nearly  all 
the  rest  of  our  leaders.  If  those  Tribunes,  big  and  little,  were 
where  any  regiment  in  this  army  could  get  at  them  they 
wouldn't  stand  fifteen  minutes.  McClellan  knows  his  business 
and  we  don't  know  a  thing  about  it.  Now  old  Pope  here  is 
as  mean  a  man  as  ever  lived,  curses  every  man  that  comes 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  him  and  nobody  knows  a  thing  of 
his  designs,  but  we  all  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  him. 
I've  never  seen  him  and  wouldn't  go  in  sight  of  him  for  a 
horse,  but  he's  my  man  for  a'  that. 

Orders  have  just  arrived  for  embarking  this  p.  m.  Will 
be  under  way  down  the  river  to-night.  Wish  us  a  pleasant 
voyage. 

On  Steamer  Henry  Clay,  off  New  Madrid,  Mo., 

April  1 6,  1862. 

I  finished  my  last  in  a  great  hurry,  helped  strike  and  load 
our  tents  and  equipage  and  started  for  the  levee,  confident  that 
we  would  be  off  for  Memphis,  Orleans  and  intermediate 
landings,  before  the  world  would  gain  12  hours  at  farthest  in 
age.  That  day  over  30  steamers  arrived,  received  their  loads 
of  soldiers  and  departed,  all  down  stream,  preceded  by  six  or 
eight  gunboats  and  16  mortarboats.  Word  came  at  nightfall 
that  there  were  not  enough  boats  for  all  and  the  cavalry  would 
have  to  wait  the  morrow  and  more  transports.  We  lay  on 
the  river  banks  that  night,  and  the  next  day  all  the  cavalry  got 
off  except  our  brigade  of  two  regiments.  Another  night  on 
the  banks  without  tents,  managed  to  get  transportation  for 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  83 

two  battalions,  one  from  each  regiment.  They  started  down 
yesterday  at  about  10  a.  m.  and  more  boats  coming  we  loaded 
two  more  battalions,  but  at  9  p.  m.  a  dispatch  boat  came  up 
with  orders  for  us  to  stop  loading  and  await  further  orders. 
The  same  boat  turned  back  all  the  cavalry  of  our  brigade 
that  had  started  and  landed  them  at  Tiptonsville ;  we  are  at 
6  this  p.  m.  lying  around  loose  on  the  bank  here  awaiting 
orders.  That  boat  brought  up  word  that  our  fleet  was  at 
Fort  Pillow,  and  the  Rebels  were  going  to  make  a  stand  there, 
but  that  nothing  had  occurred  when  she  left  but  some  gun- 
boats skirmishing.  What  the  devil  we  are  going  to  do  is 
more  than  three  men  like  me  can  guess.  It's  awful  con- 
founded dull  here.  Nothing  even  half  interesting.  Saw  a 
cuss,  trying  to  drown  himself  yesterday,  and  saw  a  fellow's  leg 
taken  off  last  night.  These  are  better  than  no  show  at  all, 
but  still  there's  not  much  fun  about  either  case.  I'm  bored 
considerably  by  some  of  my  Canton  friends  wanting  me  to 
help  them  get  their  niggers  out  of  camp.  Now,  I  don't  care 
a  damn  for  the  darkies,  and  know  that  they  are  better  off  with 
their  masters  50  times  over  than  with  us,  but  of  course  you 
know  I  couldn't  help  to  send  a  runaway  nigger  back.  I'm 
blamed  if  I  could.  I  honestly  believe  that  this  army  has  taken 
500  niggers  away  with  them.  Many  men  have  lost  from  15 
to  30  each.  The  owners  were  pretty  well  contented  while  the 
army  stayed  here,  for  all  the  generals  assured  them  that  when 
we  left  the  negroes  would  not  be  allowed  to  go  with  us,  and 
they  could  easily  get  them  back ;  but  they  have  found  out  that 
was  a  "gull"  and  they  are  some  bitter  on  us  now.  There  will 
be  two  Indiana  regiments  left  here  to  guard  the  country  from 
Island  10  to  Tiptonsville,  and  if  you  don't  hear  of  some  fun 
from  this  quarter  after  the  army  all  leaves  but  them,  I'm  mis- 
taken. They'll  have  their  hands  full  if  not  fuller.  We  have 
not  been  paid  yet  but  probably  will  be  this  week.  I  tell  you  I 
can  spend  money  faster  here  than  anywhere  I  ever  was  in  my 
life,  but  of  course  I  don't  do  it.  Am  trying  to  save  up  for 
rainy  weather,  and  the  time,  if  it  should  come,  when  I'll  have 
only  one  leg  to  go  on  or  one  arm  to  work  with.  That  Pitts- 

6 


84  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

burg  battle  was  one  awful  affair,  but  it  don't  hurt  us  any. 
Grant  will  whip  them  the  next  time  completely.  Poor  John 
Wallace  is  gone.  He  was  a  much  better  boy  than  he  had 
credit  for  being.  We  all  liked  him  in  the  old  mess  very  much. 
Ike  Simonson,  of  same  company,  I  notice  was  wounded.  He 
was  also  in  my  mess;  was  from  Farmington.  There  are  no 
rumors  in  camp  to-day.  Yesterday  it  was  reported  and  be- 
lieved that  the  Monitor  had  sunk  the  Merrimac,  that  York- 
town  was  taken,  and  that  another  big  fight  had  taken  place  at 
Corinth  and  we  held  the  town.  That  was  very  bully  but  it 
lacks  confirmation.  Think  it  will  for  sometime  yet,  but  Pope 
says  we'll  come  out  all  right  through  all  three  of  those  trials. 
It's  just  what's  wanted  to  nip  this  rebellion  up  root  and  all. 
That's  a  rather  dubious  victory  up  to  date,  that  Pittsburg 
affair,  but  guess  it's  all  right. 

Headquarters  7th  Illinois  Cavalry  Camp,  on  Hamburg 
and  Corinth  Road, 

May  3,  1862. 

I  arrived  here  yesterday  in  safety.  Stayed  in  Peoria  the 
Monday  night  that  I  started,  and  was  in  Cairo  at  9  p.  m. 
Wednesday.  Woke  up  Thursday  morning  on  a  boat  at  Pa- 
ducah  and  devoted  the  day  to  admiring  the  Tennessee  river. 
Stopped  long  enough  at  Fort  Henry  to  get  a  good  view  of  its 
well  pummeled  walls,  and  not-much-to-brag-of  defences. 
The  line  of  ditching  without  the  works  was  the  best  I  have 
ever  seen,  but  the  parapet,  excepting  that  of  the  Fort 
proper,  wasn't  to  be  compared  to  our  works  at  Bird's 
Point,  which  are  the  most  inferior  of  ours  that  I  have 
seen.  The  Tennessee  runs  through  a  perfect  wilderness. 
There  is  not  a  landing  on  the  river  up  to  this  point  (Ham- 
burg) that  can  begin  with  Copperas  Creek,  and  indeed, 
although  I  watched  closely,  I  did  not  see  more  than  three 
or  four  points,  that  of  themselves,  showed  they  were  boat 
landings,  and  those  only  by  the  grass  being  worn  off  the 
bank;  and  I  did  not  see  a  warehouse  on  either  bank  unless, 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  85 

maybe,  one  at  Savannah,  where  there  are  also,  say  four  fine 
dwellings.  At  no  other  point  did  I  see  more  than  three 
houses,  and  very  rarely,  even  one.  Having  heard  so  much 
of  the  richness  of  Middle  Tennessee  I  cannot  help  talking 
so  long  of  what  ought  to  be,  to  it,  what  the  Illinois  river 
would  be  to  us  were  we  without  railroads.  I  reached 
Hamburg  yesterday  afternoon  (Friday)  and  started  for 
my  regiment,  which  I  learned  was  five  miles  out  on  the 
Corinth  way.  I  walked  out  as  fast  as  I  could,  and  reached 
tnere  to  hear  that  the  army  had  moved  on  and  were  proba- 
bly two  miles  ahead  and  yet  going.  I  laid  down  and  slept 
a  couple  of  hours,  borrowed  a  horse,  and  after  six  miles 
riding  found  them  going  into  camp.  Monstrous  hilly 
country,  this,  and  save  a  very  few  clearings,  all  heavily 
timbered.  Pope's  army  has  been  reinforced  considerably 
since  we  arrived  here.  Think  he  has,  say  30  odd  thousand 
men.  I  think  the  ball  opened  just  before  I  commenced 
this  letter.  For  two  days  past  we  have  had  one  batallion 
out  about  four  miles  beyond  our  present  camp  holding  an 
important  position.  They  have  been  within  gunshot  of  the 
enemy  all  the  time,  but  so  protected  that  although  they 
skirmished  a  good  deal,  but  one  of  ours  was  wounded.  In 
one  little  charge  our  boys  made  out  they  killed  four  and 
wounded  a  number  of  Rebels  that  they  felt  of.  Pope's 
infantry  came  up  to-day  in  force  and  relieved  them. 
Paine's  division  was  advanced  and  when  not  more  than 
40  yards  beyond  the  post  our  cavalry  held,  were  opened 
on  first  by  musketry  and  immediately  afterwards  by  artil- 
lery. There  was  very  heavy  firing  for  an  half  hour,  but 
it  has  ceased  since  I  commenced  this  page.  Haven't  heard 
the  result.  We  have  orders  to  move  forward  to-morrow 
morning,  but  although  we  are  so  close  to  the  enemy's  posi- 
tion, (not  more  than  three  miles)  (Infantry,  of  course,  I 
mean)  don't  think  our  side  will  commence  the  attack  be- 
fore Monday  morning,  when  we  will  see — sure — if  they 
don't  run. 


86  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Supper. — Some  of  our  boys  have  just  come  in  with  a  lot 
of  overcoats,  trinkets,  etc.,  spoils  of  the  afternoon  skirmish. 
They  were  all  Illinois  regiments  that  were  engaged.  A  ser- 
geant has  just  showed  me  an  overcoat  that  he  stripped  off 
a  dead  secesh,  who  with  eleven  others  was  lying  in  one  pile. 
He  captured  a  captain  who,  after  he  had  thrown  down  his 
sword,  offered  to  give  him  a  fist  fight.  The  artillery  firing 
was  mostly  from  Rebel  guns  at  Farmington  at  a  regiment 
of  our  boys  building  a  bridge.  The  Northern  Mississippi 
line  runs  through  our  camp.  We  cannot  be  far  form  luka 
Springs,  although  no  one  that  I've  seen  ever  heard  of  the 
place.  Report  has  just  come  that  Mitchell  has  been  driven 
out  of  Huntsville,  and  another  that  Yorktown  and  45,000 
prisoners  are  ours.  Don't  believe  either.  Shall  write  you 
from  Corinth  if  have  luck. 

Near  Farmington,  Miss.,  May  8,  1862. 
I've  been  within  one  and  a  half  miles  of  Corinth  to-day. 
Didn't  see  anything  especially  worthy  of  mention,  but  had 
full  rations  in  the  way  of  leaden  bullets  whistle.  Yea,  and 
larger  missiles  also.  For  four  days  past  our  battalion  has 
been  the  advanced  picket  of  Pope's  army,  full  five  miles  in 
advance  of  the  army.  We  have  been  skirmishing  the 
whole  time,  not  five  minutes  passing  without  more  or  less 
shooting.  Our  picket  line  was  on  one  side  of  a  long  prairie 
or  clearing,  from  300  to  450  yards  wide,  and  theirs  on  the 
opposite  side.  With  all  the  firing,  the  losses  on  our  side 
was  but  one  horse  up  to  this  morning,  and  we  were  con- 
gratulating ourselves  on  getting  on  so  well,  when  the  ad- 
vance of  a  large  reconnoitering  party  under  General  Paine 
came  in  sight  and  we  were  ordered  to  lead  them.  Well,  it's 
all  over  now,  and  we've  had  our  Maj.  Z.  Applington  killed, 
several  wounded,  and  horses  hurt  by  bursting  shells.  It's 
all  right,  I  suppose,  but  damn  the  general  that  sent  us  on 
a  fool's  errand.  We've  a  strong  old  place  to  take  here  at 
Corinth,  but  guess  we'll  make  the  riffle.  The  major  fell 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  8/ 

while  leading  a  charge  along  a  road.  The  timber  and 
brush  by  the  roadside  were  so  thick  that  we  could  see 
nothing  until  our  boys  received  the  volley  of  musketry, 
of  which  one  ball  reached  the  major's  brain.  The  recon- 
noitering  party  returned  to  camp  last  night,  and  this  morn- 
ing the  Rebels  took  their  turn.  They  advanced  in  con- 
siderable force,  drove  our  men  back  some  two  miles, 
captured  a  couple  of  pieces  of  cannon,  and  filled  our  hos- 
pitals pretty  well.  Our  regiment  was  not  in  that  fight. 
The  Iowa  2d  Cavalry  suffered  badly,  'tis  said,  in  trying  to 
take  a  Rebel  battery. 

Lieutenant  Herring  was  wounded  by  a  drunken  soldier 
of  the  4th  Regular  Cavalry  yesterday,  and  Captain  Nelson 
knocked  down  by  the  same  man.  Herring  was  shot 
through  the  arm.  A  suspender  buckle  that  the  ball  glanced 
from  saved  his  life.  It's  a  little  doubtful  whether  this 
fight  comes  off  immediately.  I  think  and  hope  that  our 
folks  are  going  to  let  them  concentrate  all  their  troops 
here  and  then  make  a  Waterloo  of  it.  That  is,  a  Waterloo 
for  them,  but  if  they  whip  us,  call  out  the  home-guards 
and  try  them  again.  Weather  here  almost  too  warm  for 
comfort  in  daytime,  but  deliciously  cool  after  sunset.  Ap- 
ples and  peaches  are  as  large  as  hickory  nuts,  and  black- 
berries the  size  of  peas.  The  water  is  very  good.  Think 
will  like  it  as  well  as  Mississippi  water  after  a  while.  The 
well  water  is  not  as  cool  though  as  I  have  seen  it.  I  have 
not  visited  the  8th  or  I7th  yet.  They  are  in  a  division  that 
forms  a  reserve  (McClernands)  and  will  not  fight  until  the 
rest  of  Thomas's  (formerly  Grant's)  division  have  had  a 
chance.  Shall  go  and  see  them  immediately  after  the  bat- 
tle if  I  have  luck.  My  health  is  perfect  yet  and  am  in 
hopes  'twill  remain  so.  My  love  to  inquiring  friends,  and 
do  not  expect  to  hear  from  me  regularly  as  the  mail  only 
leaves  here  semi-occasionally.  What  a  change  in  climate 
two  day's  ride  make.  Trees  all  in  full  leaf,  and  saw 
peaches  to-day  larger  than  filberts.  Summer  coats  are  in 
demand. 


88  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Corinth  and  Hamburg  Road,  Miss.,  May  n,  1862. 
You  remember  that  in  my  last  I  spoke  of  a  reconnoisance 
our  people  made  on  the  8th  inst.  On  the  Qth  Beauregard 
returned  it  with  interest,  driving  our  advance  back  some  two 
miles  and  almost  scaring  this  wing  of  the  Eagle.  He  ap- 
peared on  our  left  flank,  where  I  think  Pope  thought  it  im- 
possible for  him  to  reach,  and  drove  Paine's  division  from 
the  front  like  a  drove  of  sheep.  'Tis  said  that  a  charge  made 
by  the  2d  Iowa  Cavalry  was  the  salvation  of  both  of  Paine's 
brigades.  The  charge,  if  we  hear  correctly,  was  one  of  the 
most  gallant  things  of  the  war.  One  of  our  battalions  was 
out  yesterday  examining  our  left  to  see  if  the  Rebels  were  still 
there.  They  found  no  signs  of  them,  but  on  their  return  to 
camp  were  fired  into  by  some  of  General  Buford's  artillery, 
and  one  man  killed  by  a  6-pound  solid  shot  from  Company  A. 
There  is  almost  incessant  firing  along  the  front  but  too  light 
and  scattering  to  forbode  an  immediate  fight  of  itself,  although 
'twould  surprise  no  one  to  hear  of  the  dance  commencing  at 
any  hour.  Corinth  is  a  tremendously  strong  place,  very  diffi- 
cult to  approach,  and  holding  a  force  that  our  officers  think 
much  superior  to  our  own.  This  is  kept  from  the  army, 
though  I  don't  think  now  that  we  have  more  than  80,000 
fighting  men  here.  They  must  have  over  100,000,  and  this 
conscription  act  is  pouring  in  reinforcements  to  them  by  thous- 
ands. But,  notwithstanding  this,  I  think  the  superior  discip- 
line of  our  men  will  give  us  a  victory  when  the  fight  does 
come.  The  strongest  evidence  that  I  see  of  Halleck's  weakness 
is  his  delaying  the  battle  so  long  We  are  in  distance  to  strike 
any  day;  roads  splendid,  army  in  better  condition  every  day 
than  it  will  be  the  next  day,  weather  becoming  too  hot  for 
men  to  endure  much  longer,  and  yet  we  wait.  What  for,  I 
don't  know,  unless  'tis  for  reinforcements.  They  say  Curtis 
and  Siegel  are  coming.  I  hope  they'll  get  here  to-night  and 
finish  the  thing  up  to-morrow.  The  weather  is  taking  the  vim 
out  of  the  men  remarkably.  To-day  there  is  a  good  stray 
breeze,  and  yet  a  man  can  hardly  get  enough  of  the  rarified 
stuff  they  call  air  here  to  fill  his  lungs.  Plenty  of  chestnuts 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  89 

in  this  country.  Plenty  of  hills  and  plenty  of  woods  but  a 
great  scarcity  of  about  everything  else.  There  is  no  more 
soil  on  the  earth  here  than  you'll  find  on  any  Illinois  school 
house  floor,  and  'tis  a  question  which  would  grow  the  best 
crops. 

The  colonel  is  anxious  to  have  the  regiment  in  the  battle 
when  it  comes  off,  while  your  brother  thinks  if  they  can  do 
the  work  without  us  he  won't  be  at  all  angry.  I  like  skirmish- 
ing pretty  well  but  am  dubious  about  the  fun  showing  itself 
so  strongly  in  a  battle.  I  guess  I  had  a  dozen  shots  thrown 
at  me  individually  on  the  8th  at  from  100  to  450  yards,  and 
I  got  my  return  shot  nearly  every  time  and  some  extra  ones, 
but  rather  think  they  all  got  off  as  well  as  I  did.  The  car- 
bines are  not  very  correct  shooters,  and  your  brother  is  a 
ditto,  so  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  I  haven't 
killed  anybody  yet. 

Still  in  Camp  near  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  15,  1862. 
It  seems  to  me  that  we  are  a  long  time  in  bringing  this 
"muss  a  la  probable"  to  a  focus.  What  under  the  sun  our 
Halleck  is  waiting  for  we  can't  guess.  One  hour's  march  will 
commence  the  struggle  now  and  you  don't  know  how  anxious 
we  are  for  that  little  trip.  Buell  and  Thomas  have  both 
Ithrown  up  long  lines  of  earthworks  to  fall  back  behind  if 
repulsed,  I  suppose.  We  have  nothing  of  that  kind  in  our 
division.  We  have  all  been  under  marching  orders  since  morn- 
ing, and  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  Scott  told  the  colonel  last 
night  that  the  battle  would  commence  to-day — but  he  lied. 
Talk  is  to-night  again  that  Corinth  is  evacuated.  The  main 
body  of  our  army  moved  up  within  three  miles  to-day.  My 
battalion  has  been  out  since  daylight  this  morning,  but  we 
have  been  lying  at  ease  near  Pope's  headquarters  all  day  wait- 
ing for  orders.  I  came  back  to  camp  to  stay  to-night  because 
I  had  no  blanket  with  me  and  there  was  no  possibility  of  any 
more  before  morning.  Have  a  sore  foot  now.  My  confounded 
horse  fell  down  with  me  in  a  creek  the  other  day,  threw  me 
out  on  the  bank  in  a  bunch  of  blackberry  bushes  and  then 


QO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

crawled  out  over  me,  stepped  on  my  foot  in  the  melee  by  way 
of  showing  sympathy,  I  suppose.  It  don't  hurt  my  appetite 
any  and  hasn't  put  me  off  duty. 

Near  Corinth,  Miss.,  May  19  ,1862. 

Our  regiment  now  is  acting  as  a  kind  of  rear  guard  for 
Pope's  division.  The  enemy's  cavalry  in  bodies  of  from  1,000 
down  have  been  running  around  our  left  flank  and  threaten- 
ing to  interfere  with  our  trains.  Every  day  we  send  out  six 
companies  to  patrol  between  here  and  the  river  and  forward. 
Yesterday  (Sunday)  I  was  out.  We  went  to  Red  Sulphur 
Springs,  one  of  the  most  romantic,  beautiful  places  I  have  ever 
seen.  There  are  about  40  double  cottages  for  families,  and 
stables,  kennels  and  quarters  for  the  servants,  hounds  and 
horses.  The  buildings  are  in  good  repair,  though  the  place  has 
not  been  frequented  much  for  the  last  three  or  four  years. 
White  Sulphur  Springs  are  four  miles  from  the  Red  and 
more  fashionable.  I  am  going  there  to-morrow.  There  were 
about  a  dozen  real  ladies  at  the  springs  yesterday,  and  they 
were  quite  sociable  and  so  interesting  that  I  could  not  help 
staying  an  hour  after  the  column  left  We  were  the  first  of  our 
soldiers  that  the  party  had  seen  and  they  were  much  sur- 
prised that  our  boys  behaved  so  well.  None  of  them  had 
ever  been  North,  and  they  occupied  about  all  the  time  I  was 
with  them  in  asking  questions,  principally  though,  about  the 
conduct  of  our  army.  About  a  mile  before  we  got  to  the 
springs  we  passed  a  house  where  there  were  as  many  as  six 
young  ladies  in  full  dress.  The  major  sent  me  to  make  some 
inquiries  of  the  man  of  the  house,  and  I  noticed  the  party 
were  in  something  of  a  flurry  but  ascribed  it  to  the  presence 
of  our  men.  Of  course  Sunday  was  an  excuse  for  the  finery 
and  there  being  so  many  together.  After  we  had  advanced  a 
little  way  one  of  our  captains  took  a  squad,  went  ahead  and 
passed  himself  for  a  Rebel  officer  just  from  Corinth.  By  his 
figuring  he  found  out  that  at  this  house  I  have  spoken  of  they 
were  expecting  some  Rebel  officers  and  men,  14  in  all,  from 
Corinth  to  dinner  and  a  visit.  We  set  a  trap  for  them,  but 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  QI 

they  heard  of  us  through  the  citizens  and  sloped.  They  came 
within  a  mile  of  us  and  then  their  tracks  showed  they  had 
gone  off  through  the  woods  and  a  swamp  on  a  run.  We  got 
one  of  their  horses,  a  beauty,  fully  equipped.  It  being  a  hot 
day  the  owner  had  strapped  his  coat  on  his  valise  and  not 
having  time  to  take  it  off  we  got  it.  A  dozen  of  our  boys 
went  back  and  ate  the  dinner,  but  without  the  company  of  the 
ladies  who  had  flown.  Our  line  has  now  closed  to  within 
two  and  one-half  miles  around  the  north  and  east  sides  of 
Corinth.  Our  men  have  thrown  up  breastworks  within  that 
distance  along  nearly  the  whole  line.  The  cannons  play  on 
each  other  occasionally,  say  as  an  average  four  times  a  day, 
a  half  hour  each  time.  Our  line  is,  I  think,  nine  or  ten  miles 
long;  am  not  sure.  The  Rebels  are  suffering  for  rations,  not 
more  than  half  rations  having  been  served  for  the  last  ten  days. 
Hundreds  are  deserting  from  them.  One  battalion  that  was 
raised  in  this  county,  over  500  men,  have  all  deserted  but 
about  90.  The  commander  himself  ran  off.  Of  a  100  men 
that  deserted  from  them  probably  five  come  within  our  lines. 
The  rest  all  go  to  their  homes.  If  Porter  takes  Mobile,  and 
Farragut  and  Davis  get  Memphis,  I  think  in  ten  days  after- 
ward there  will  not  be  enough  Rebels  left  in  Corinth  to  op- 
pose our  regiment.  There  is  no  doubt  that  they  have  more 
men  now  than  we  have  but  they  lack  discipline.  Success  at 
the  points  above  named  will  leave  them  without  any  railroad 
communication  whatever  or  telegraph  either.  I'm  afraid  that 
our  gunboats  got  the  worst  of  that  little  affair  at  Pillow  the 
other  day.  An  army  is  the  slowest  moving  animal.  Here 
we've  been  over  a  month  making  20  miles.  I  think  I  shall 
run  off  to  McClernand's  division  this  p.  m.  and  see  some  of 
the  1 7th  and  8th  boys. 

Near   Corinth,   Miss.,   May  24,   1862. 

I  returned  last  night  from  a  two  day's  scout.     Our  orders 

were  to  scour  the  country  along  the  Tennessee  river  to  near 

Eastport  and  return  through  luka,  Burnsville  and  Glendale. 

A  Michigan  colonel  commanded  the  party  and  skipped  luka 


92  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

three  miles.  There  were  little  bands  of  Rebels  in  sight  nearly 
all  the  time  we  were  in  that  vicinity,  so  that  I  could  not 
gallop  off  to  the  place  alone,  and  of  course  the  colonel  wouldn't 
let  me  have  men  to  go  with  me. 

We  rode  all  day  yesterday  through  a  steady  rain  and  over 
roads  that  were  for  miles  obstructed  by  felled  trees  and  bridges 
burned.  We  came  back  through  Pope's  division  yesterday. 
Think  he  is  as  about  as  well  fortified  as  Beauregard  can  be. 
'Tis  astonishing  how  much  ditching  he  has  done  within  a 
week.  Has  also  cut  down  enough  trees  (to  make  his  left 
unapproachable)  to  last  all  of  Illinois  ten  years  for  firewood. 
There's  no  site  for  a  Bull  Run  here.  Confederate  scrip  goes 
among  the  people  here  freely.  If  a  man  refuses  to  take  it 
they  lynch  him.  Not  the  citizens  but  soldiers  do  the  dirty 
work.  The  people  here  all  say  that  the  seceded  States  will 
have  to  go  back  where  they  started  from. 

Camp  on  Corinth  Road,  Miss.,  May  27,  1862. 

Why  don't  you  write  me  just  a  word,  if  no  more?  I'm 
almost  uneasy.  Not  a  line  from  home  for  a  month.  We 
hear  that  smallpox  is  raging  in  Canton,  and — I  want  you  to 
write.  They  say  there  is  some  smallpox  in  the  center  and 
right  of  the  army,  but  think  'tis  like  the  milk  sickness  of  our 
Egypt,  "a  little  further  on."  There's  enough  sickness  of  other 
kinds,  so  we  have  no  room  for  grumbling  if  we  can't  have  that 
disease.  The  hospitals  at  Hamburg  make  almost  a  city.  I 
think  there  can  be  no  more  sorrowful  sight,  real  or  imaginary, 
than  that  camp  of  the  sick. 

I  don't  know  the  number  of  patients,  somewhere  in  thous- 
ands, all  packed  in  tents  as  closely  as  they  can  lie,  and  with 
not  one-tenth  the  care  a  sick  horse  would  get  at  home.  I 
suppose  the  surgeons,  stewards  and  nurses  have  reelings  like 
men  when  they  first  enter  the  hospitals,  but  familarity  with 
disease  and  suffering  seem  to  make  them  careless  and  in- 
different to  a  degree  that  surprises  me,  and  I  can't  but  look 
upon  it  as  criminal.  I  suppose  nearly  half  the  bad  cases  are 
typhoid  fever.  Yellow  fever,  cholera  and  smallpox  have  never 
been  known  here  to  the  citizens.  They  all  say  this  is  a  very 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  93 

healthy  country,  and  I  believe  it.  Our  boys  are  suffering 
from  the  change  of  climate  and  water,  and  as  much  as  any- 
thing, the  sudden  change  in  temperature.  Our  regiment  is  im- 
proving in  health  now  rapidly.  We  have  gained  about  40 
for  duty  within  a  week.  We  had  about  250  sick  last  week. 
The  1 7th  has  some  300.  I  found  a  batch  of  live 
secesh  women  last  Sunday.  I  rode  up  to  a  fine 
looking  house  to  get  a  glass  of  milk  (I  suppose  I 
drink  more  milk  than  any  six  calves  in  Fulton)  and  found 
eight  or  ten  ladies  at  dinner,  accepted  a  rather  cool  invitation 
to  dine  wid'  'em,  and  did  justice  to  their  peas  and  fodder  gen- 
erally, and  was  much  amused.  Think  there  was  more  spice 
to  that  dinner  than  I  ever  before  saw.  One  black-eyed  vixen 
opened  the  ball  with  "I  don't  see  how  you  can  hold  your  head 
up  and  look  people  in  the  face,  engaged  in  the  cause  you  are." 
I  told  her  I  thought  she  had  a  free  way  of  'spressing  her 
opinion.  "Yes,"  says  she,  "I  can't  use  a  gun  but  I  can  tongue 
lash  you,  and  will  every  chance."  Then  they  all  joined  in, 
but  I  found  that  eating  was  my  best  "holt,"  so  they  had  it 
their  own  way.  When  I'd  finished  my  dinner,  told  them  "a  la 
Buell,"  that  I  thought  their  house  would  make  an  excellent 
hospital,  and  that  we'd  probably  bring  out  80  or  a  100  patients 
the  next  day  for  them  to  take  care  of.  Scared  them  like  the 
devil,  all  but  one,  and  they  all  knew  so  much  better  places 
for  the  sick.  This  odd  one  said  she  had  a  way  of  "putting 
arsenic  in  some  people's  feed,  and  she'd  do  it,  too."  Told  her 
we'd  give  her  a  commish  as  chief  taster,  and  put  her  through 
a  course  of  quinine,  asafcetida  and  sich.  Said  she'd  like  to  see 
us  dare  to  try  it,  she  would.  They  were  too  much  for  me, 
but  I'll  never  pass  that  place  without  calling.  I'd  give  my 
shirt  to  have  had  Ame  Babcock  there.  Those  are  the  first 
outspoken  female  seceshers  I  have  yet  seen. 

Deserters  say  that  the  Rebels  have  positively  no  forage  or 
provisions  in  Corinth.  That  the  Memphis  and  Mobile  railways 
can  barely  bring  enough  daily,  scraped  from  the  whole  length 
of  the  lines  to  feed  the  army.  It  is  reported  here  that  Sher- 
man took  possession  of  the  Memphis  road  west  of  Corinth 


94  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

yesterday  and  has  fortified  his  position.  Pope  got  two  or 
three  men  killed  yesterday.  There  was  about  5,000  of  the 
enemy  camped  in  the  woods  one  and  one-half  miles  in  front 
of  his  posish,  and  he  drove  them  back  until  they  were  rein- 
forced and  made  him  scoot  again.  I  was  out  with  a  scout 
Sunday  and  started  again  last  night  at  dark  (Monday)  and 
was  out  until  9  this  a.  m.  The  cause  was  some  small  bands 

raising  the  d 1  on  our  left.  We  didn't  catch  them.  We 

were  over  to  the  Tennessee,  Sunday,  where  we  could  see  the 
sacred  soil  of  Alabama.  I  like  Alabama  better  than  any  other 
Southern  State.  She's  never  done  the  "blowing"  the  others 
have  and  people  here  say  that  she's  nearer  loyal  than  any  other 
Southern  state.  They're  raising  loyal  companies  here  now. 
There  are  two  full  in  Savannah. 

General  Jeff  C.  Davis'  division  passed  here  to-day  to  join 
Pope's  corps.  Davis  stopped  with  us  and  made  quite  a  visit. 
General  Ash  of  this  division  goes  forward  to-morrow.  The 
2 ist  and  38th  Illinois  from  Stules  division  went  out  yesterday. 
Eleven  regiments  in  all  added  to  Pope's  command  in  two 
days;  except  the  last  two  they  were  all  at  Pea  Ridge  and 
some  at  Wilson's  Creek.  A  splendid  lot  of  men  but  not 
drilled  equal  to  many  regiments  of  the  "Army  Miss." 

I  don't  honestly  believe  that  we  have  with  all  our  reinforce- 
ments 100,000  men  here;  but  don't  believe  the  Rebels  have 
75,000;  of  course  I  mean  effective  men  that  can  be  called  on 
the  field  to  fight.  We  have  just  received  orders  to  move  to 
front  to-morrow. 

Near  Farmington,  Miss.,  May  28,  1862 
We  moved  up  here  this  morning  under  the  hottest  sun 
and  over  the  dustiest  roads,  and  I  then  helped  the  major 
lay  off  the  camp,  and  pitched  our  tents  ourselves.  Gra- 
cious, how  hot  it  was !  I  worked  and  sweated  and  blessed 
General  Pope  for  ordering  us  forward  on  such  a  day.  I'll 
wager  we  are  the  only  field  and  staff  that  pitch  and  strike 
our  head  quarter's  tents  without  the  aid  of  the  men.  But 
I  can't  bear  the  idea  of  making  men  who  are  our  equals 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  95 

at  home  do  our  work  here.  Soldiering  in  the  ranks  spoils 
a  man  for  acting  officer  "a-la-regular."  We're  ordered  to 
have  our  horses  saddled  by  3  a.  m.  to-morrow.  There 
has  been  the  liveliest  kind  of  cannonading  along  the  whole 
lines  to-day.  Our  whole  army  advanced  about  a  mile.  I 
think  that  at  almost  any  point  on  the  line  we  can  throw 
shot  into  their  works.  Distances  vary  from  one  and  one- 
half  miles  to  two  and  a  quarter  or  two  and  one-half.  Many 
of  the  generals  think  that  to-morrow  there  will  be  a  general 
fight.  They  talk  a  great  deal  more  since  the  news  corre- 
spondents have  been  sent  off;  and  of  course  anything  of 
that  kind,  that  a  brigadier  says,  goes  the  rounds  of  the 
whole  camp  in  real  telegraph  style.  Have  heard  of  a  num- 
ber of  killings  to-day,  and  haven't  heard  a  tithe  of  the 
whole.  The  enemy  are  beginning  to  dispute  our  further 
advance  right  strongly.  Many  think  that  Halleck  has  com- 
menced a  regular  siege.  He  has  left  a  line  of  splendid  de- 
fences to-day,  and  if  he  forms  new  works  on  the  position 
taken  up  to-day,  we  will  know  that  we  are  in  for  a  long 
fight,  a-la-Yorktown.  Two  regiments  of  cavalry  went  out 
this  morning  to  destroy  the  Ohio  &  Mobile  R.  R.,  30  miles 
south  of  Corinth.  I  wish  them  luck.  Many  of  the  Rebel 
shot  and  shell  struck  within  a  half  mile  of  the  front  of  our 
camp  to-day.  It  looks  somewhat  like  the  times  at  Madrid 
and  Point  Pleasant,  but  will  probably  be  a  little  more 
interesting  before  we  finally  finish  it. 

May  30,  1862. — We  have  our  horses  saddled  all  the  time 
since  2:30  yesterday  morning.  Owing  to  Colonel  Kellogg's 
continued  illness  he  was  this  morning  retired  from  further 
command  of  brigade,  and  Mizner  put  in  his  place.  We  could 
hear  the  cars  running  at  Corinth  all  last  night,  and  now 
there  is  a  heavy  black  smoke  hanging  over  the  place.  Some 
think  they  have  evacuated,  but  'tis  doubtful.  Firing  all 
the  time  since  3  this  morning.  Up  to  this  time  we  (our 
regiment)  have  had  but  three  men  killed  and  nine 
wounded  here.  Have  been  remarkably  fortunate.  I  gave 
up  my  cot  to  Major  Rawalt  and  am  sleeping  on  the  ground 


96  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

now,  and  the  confounded  lizards  are  working  me  into  a 
fever.  They  are  as  thick  as  you  ever  saw  grasshoppers. 
One  of  them  ran  into  Allan  Heald's  shirt  bosom  yesterday 
and  they  say  he  moved  rather  sprightly  for  a  few  minutes. 
Lots  of  snakes  here,  cottonmouths,  copperheads,  rattle- 
snakes, and  commoner  varmint.  There's  also  a  scorpion 
that  looks  like  a  lizard  with  a  green  head.  They  say  it 
is  poisonous. 

June  4,  1862.  No.  10. 

We've  been  living  out  here  a  week  without  any  tents 
until  to-night,  and  General  Pope  is  ripping  and  swearing 
because  we  dared  to  move  them  up  here  without  orders. 
He  says  we  shall  not  move  a  thing  back.  The  colonel 
I  am  with  is  a  regular  army  officer  and  he  shows  it  all 
over,  but  I  like  him  very  much  so  far.  I  won't  get  to  go 
out  on  near  as  many  scouts,  for  will  only  go  when  the 
whole  brigade  moves. 

Camp  near  Boonville,  Miss.,  June  4,  1862. 
Since  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  we  have  been  pushing 
after  them  after  a  fashion.  That  is  follow  them  until  we  catch 
up  with  their  rear  guard  and  then  retreat  three-fourths  the 
distance  we  have  advanced.  Have  been  five  or  six  days  fol- 
lowing them  25  miles.  Yesterday  we  advanced  some  10  miles 
beyond  this  point,  skirmishing  with  them  all  the  last  five  miles, 
and  then  we  all  returned  to  camp  here.  I  think  we  must 
have  had  40,000  men  out  yesterday  and  yet  it  was  only  a  re- 
connoisance  in  force.  But  what  the  devil  was  the  use  thereof 
I  cannot  see,  for  the  day  previous  some  of  our  cavalry  was  out 
farther  than  we  went.  Our  regiment  had  the  first  skirmish 
with  the  Rebels  after  they  left  Corinth.  'Twas  about  seven 
miles  out  of  the  town.  We  had  two  killed  and  three  wounded. 
They  were  of  the  Decatur  Company.  Our  boys  killed  fire  of 
them.  This  is  the  most  masterly  retreat  yet.  They  have  posi- 
tively left  nothing  of  any  value.  I  don't  think  they  left  tents 
enough  for  one  regiment.  They  left  not  one  cannon.  No 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  97 

arms  of  any  value  and  very  few  of  any  kind.  We  have  only 
found  one  wagon  since  we  passed  Corinth,  although  there 
were  a  number  in  the  place  that  they  did  not  need.  We 
haven't  taken  50  prisoners,  although  they  have  lost  hundreds, 
maybe  thousands,  by  desertion.  There  is  not  the  least  evi- 
dence that  they  yere  in  haste  at  any  point,  and  just  20  hours 
before  we  entered  Corinth  we  were  ordered  to  saddle  our 
horses  and  be  in  perfect  readiness  for  a  fight,  as  it  was  ex- 
pected that  the  enemy  would  attack  us  before  three  hours. 
At  that  time  they  could  not  have  had  more  than  enough  men 
in  Corinth  to  do  the  required  picket  duty.  They  are  now, 
or  at  least  a  large  body  of  them,  in  camp  within  12  miles  of 
us,  and  the  story  through  the  army  is  they  are  marching  on 
us.  Our  boys  are  fairly  wild  to  be  on  after  them  But  then 
another  rumor  from  a  tolerably  reliable  source,  is  we  are 
going  to  fall  back  to  Corinth  and  camp  until  plans  are  more 
fully  matured.  Still  another  says  Pope's  army  is  ordered 
down  the  Mississippi  river  again.  I  hope  the  last  is  not  so, 
for  I  have  a  dread  of  that  river  in  the  summer  season.  I  am 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general  for  Colonel  Mizner,  com- 
manding ist  Brigade  Corps. 

Headquarters  ist  Brigade  Cavalry  Division, 

Camp  near  Boonville,  Miss.,  June  6,  1862. 
I  am  leading  an  inglorious  life  now,  nothing  to  do  but  the 
brigade  writing  and  ride  with  the  colonel  when  he  goes  out 
on  business.  The  only  time  I  am  on  the  fighting  list  is  when 
the  brigade  goes  out,  and  that  is  very  rarely,  and  only  when 
reconnoisances  in  force  are  made,  and  there  is  seldom  any 
fighting  done  then.  General  Hamilton's  whole  division  marched 
by  our  tent  to-day  and  it  was  a  splendid  sight ;  I  had  thought 
that  I'd  never  want  to  see  any  more  troops  but  his  division 
looked  so  splendidly,  that  I  really  enjoyed  the  sight  of  them. 
I  knew  that  they  were  only  marching  into  a  new  camp,  but 
they  all  had  got  the  idea  that  they  were  going  into  a  fight  and 
they  were  in  grand  spirits.  I  never  saw  the  men  look  as 


9»  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

healthy  as  they  do  now.  One  reason  is  those  who  were  sick 
have  been  all  left  at  the  river  and  the  weakly  ones  do  not 
pretend  to  march  in  the  ranks  this  hot  weather.  We  are 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  General  Pope's  headquarters  and 
there  are  continually  a  lot  of  brigadiers  passing.  They  nearly 
always  ride  on  the  gallop,  and  with  the  aids  and  escorts  all 
told,  say  60  in  number  to  each  general,  they  make  quite  a 
dashing  appearance.  Rosecrans,  Buell,  Granger,  Smith,  Sher- 
man, T.  W.,  Plummer,  Paine,  Hamilton  and  Pope  all  rode 
by  at  one  time  to-day. 

All  the  companies  we  have  had  out  to-day  report  skirmish- 
ing with  the  enemy  We  lost  two  men  prisoners,  some 
wounded  and  several  horses.  Got  some  prisoners.  The  enemy 
are  in  some  force  six  miles  from  here.  They  are  dodging  all 
around  us.  Rumor  says  to-day  that  Buell  with  his  army  is 
going  down  through  Alabama  to  Montgomery.  Pope  will 
move  slowly  after  the  enemy  through  Mississippi,  and  Thomas 
will  go  across  to  Memphis  and  down  the  river  to  co-operate 
with  Butler  in  a  movement  through  Southern  Mississippi. 
'Tis  probably  the  plan  of  some  cuss  in  the  ranks.  I  wish  for 
one  day  that  you  could  hear  all  the  camp  rumors.  They  would 
make  a  remarkable  book. 

Rienzi,  Tishomingo  Co.,  Miss.,  June  9,  1862. 
Saturday  morning  the  5th  inst.  the  colonel  and  myself 
started  for  a  little  pleasure  ride  as  a  relaxation  from  the  many 
cares  and  troubles  people  in  this  profession  are  incident  to. 
We  started  for  Corinth,  as  neither  of  us  had  yet  visited  the 
place,  and  plodded  along  through  dust  in  air  and  heat — words 
can't  tell  how  oppressive.  We  stopped  at  General  Rose- 
crans about  i  p.  m.  and  stayed  and  dined  with  him.  The 
general  was  in  his  most  pleasant  mood  and  I  thought  him 
very  engaging  and  winning  in  his  manner.  He  told  a  num- 
ber of  amusing  stories  and  'twas  all  very  pleasant,  until  some- 
body happened  to  mention  General  Fremont's  name.  General 
Granger  was  also  at  the  table  and  the  two  generals  com- 
menced and  each  tried  to  outdo  the  other  in — yes,  reviling  the 
"bumble-bee  catcher." 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  99 

They  changed  the  subject  over  the  wine  and  General  Rose- 
crans  became  quite  enthusiastic  and  prophetic  in  his  conviction 
in  regard  to  the  war  question,  settlement  thereof,  etc.  But  I 
couldn't  see  any  remarkable  difference  between  him  and  the 
rest  of  mankind,  and  the  same  remark  will  apply  to  all  that  I 
know  of  the  other  generals  here.  I  remember  he  said  that  he 
considered  "slavery  a  vile  blot  on  the  face  of  the  earth,"  and 
that  unadulterated  abolitionism  alone  was  its  equal ;  but  I  don't 
claim  that  the  speech  showed  any  remarkable  talent.  We  left 
him  swearing  at  his  A.  Q.  M.  and  journeyed  on.  We  luckily 
met  an  old  acquaintance  of  the  colonel's,  a  captain  in  the  1st 
Regular  Infantry,  and  went  with  him  to  his  quarters  for  the 
night.  All  the  regimental  officers  quartered  together  in  a  very 
fine  house  that  belongs  to  a  secesh  colonel.  They  were  a  jolly 
set  of  men,  and  the  empty  bottles  lying  around  loose  when  we 
retired  testified  strongly  thereto.  I  remember  seeing  one  of 
them  at  Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  have  a  couple  of  little  fights  (he 
commanded  a  two-gun  battery  of  siege  pieces)  with  a 
Rebel  battery  on  the  opposite  shore. 

We  left  Corinth  early  next  morning  for  Farmington, 
and  as  we  passed  I  saw  where  Major  Applington  fell.  It  was 
as  I  supposed  about  one-half  mile  from  Corinth  (hardly 
that)  and  what  I  did  not  know,  was  within  400  yards  of  the 
strongest  part  of  the  Rebel  fortifications.  We  lunched  at  10 
a.  m  and  paid  an  old  lady  the  modest  sum  of  50  cents  for  a 
piece  of  cornbread  and  a  glass  of  buttermilk.  She  complained 
bitterly  of  some  of  Buell's  soldiers  killing  three  of  her  chick- 
ens without  paying  for  them,  and  just  the  day  before  her  hus- 
band had  been  to  Corinth  and  received  meat,  flour,  etc.,  free 
from  the  aid  society.  She  had  three  sons  in  the  Southern 
Army.  At  12  m.  we  drew  rein  25  miles  from  Corinth  at  luka. 

There  are  a  couple  of  splendid  springs  in  luka.  One 
chalybeate,  and  the  other  sulphur  water,  and  the  town  is 
the  neatest  I  have  seen  in  the  country.  Snuff-dipping  is 
an  universal  custom  here,  and  there  are  only  two  women 
in  all  luka  that  do  not  practice  it.  At  tea  parties,  after 
they  have  supped,  the  sticks  and  snuff  are  passed  round 


IOO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

and  the  dipping  commences.  Sometimes  girls  ask  their 
beaux  to  take  a  dip  with  them  during  a  spark.  I  asked 
one  if  it  didn't  interfere  with  the  old-fashioned  habit  of 
kissing.  She  assured  me  that  it  did  not  in  the  least,  and 
I  marveled.  There  was  only  one  regiment  at  luka,  and 
they  were  expecting  an  attack  from  the  hordes  of  guer- 
rillas that  infest  the  country  all  along  our  front  from  Mem- 
phis to  Florence.  I  stayed  at  the  hotel  in  town  and  had  just 
retired  (about  n)  when  crack,  crack,  two  guns  went,  only 
about  60  rods  from  the  house.  There  was  a  general  shak- 
ing of  the  whole  building,  caused  by  the  sleepers  rising 
en  masse  and  bouncing  out  on  the  floors.  I  thought  if 
there  was  no  fight  I  wouldn't  be  fooled,  and  if  there  was 
I  couldn't  do  any  good,  so  I  kept  cool.  'Twas  only  a  little 
bushwhacking.  A  soldier  policeman  having  been  shot  at 
from  the  brush,  and  he  returned  the  favor  by  guess.  This 
infantry  always  thinks  the  enemy  is  just  out  of  gunshot 
of  them,  and  they  are  three-fourths  scared  to  death  all  the 
time.  At  noon  of  Monday  we  left  luka,  rode  to  Burnsville, 
a  place  that  I  have  spoken  of  in  my  letters  before,  as  we 
scouted  through  it  while  lying  before  Corinth.  None  of 
our  soldiers  have  camped  there  yet,  and  we  were  the  only 
ones  there  while  we  stayed.  The  colonel  took  a  nap  to 
recover  from  the  heat  and  fatigue  of  riding,  and  I  strolled 
down  town  to  look  up  some  acquaintances  I  made  while 
scouting.  They  treated  me  pretty  well,  and  made  me  a 
letter  carrier,  as  many  of  them  had  letters  to  send  to  their 
friends  who  are  prisoners.  At  dark  we  started  for  Jacinto, 
ten  miles  south,  but  for  so  many  hills  had  a  splendid  ride. 
'Twas  through  the  woods,  all  the  way,  and  over  real  young 
mountains.  We  got  to  Jacinto  at  10  p.  m.  and  concluded 
to  stay  all  night.  I  laid  down  an  hour  or  two,  but  the 
fleas  were  so  bad  that  I  got  up  and  stayed  up  the  rest  of 
the  night.  I  walked  around  the  town  and  stopped  at  head- 
quarters of  the  guard  and  talked  with  the  boys.  (They 
were  of  Jeff  C.  Davis's  division,  of  Pea  Ridge,  Ark.,  and 
Siegel.)  They  all  think  that  Siegel  is  the  only  man  and  hate 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  IOI 

Davis  like  the  devil.  I  waked  the  colonel  at  4  p.  m.  and 
we  started  for  home.  The  road  from  Jacinto,  home,  was 
lined  with  infantry,  the  whole  left  wing  of  our  corps 
being  on  it.  They  had  no  tents  but  seemed  to  be  preparing 
the  ground  for  a  camp.  We  got  home  in  time  for  a  little 
nap  before  breakfast,  both  of  which  I  enjoyed  very  much. 
We  found  the  garrison  much  excited  about  an  attack  that 
was  expected  every  hour.  The  2d  Brigade  of  Cavalry 
had  been  about  eight  miles  in  front  doing  outpost  duty, 
and  having  been  alarmed  by  rumors  had  abandoned  their 
camp  and  retreated  to  this  place.  Their  sutler  gave  up 
his  goods  to  the  boys,  preferring  they  should  have  them 
free,  rather  than  the  enemy.  The  next  day  (yesterday 
morning)  a  scout  was  sent  out  and  found  their  camp  just 
as  they  had  left  it.  All  of  which  was  considered  quite  a 
joke  on  the  2d  Brigade.  The  enemy  may  come  up  here 
and  may  whip  us  out,  we  are  scattered  so  much,  but  they 
will  have  a  riotous  time  of  it.  All  told  we  had  a  very 
pleasant  ride,  but  if  we  are  gobbled  up  some  of  these  times 
when  riding  around  without  an  escort  you  must  not  be 
surprised.  I  don't  think  it  just  the  straight  way  of  doing 
such  business,  but  Charles  can  go  where  the  colonel  dares 
to,  and  my  preference  is  for  riding  as  far  from  a  column  as 
possible  on  several  accounts.  The  colonel  is  a  very  inter- 
esting companion  on  such  a  trip,  full  of  talk,  and  he  hae  had 
six  years  experience  on  the  frontier.  I  induced  a  very 
young  lady  with  a  well  cracked  piano  to  favor  me  with 
some  music  at  luka.  She  sang  "The  Bonny  Blue  Flag 
That  Bears  a  Single  Star."  It  was  as  near  the  music  we 
used  to  hear  in  the  old  Presbyterian  church  at  home  as 
you  could  think,  and  that's  all  that  kept  me  from  laughing 
in  her  face.  We  celebrated  the  capture  of  Richmond  on 
the  4th,  but  are  now  trying  to  forget  that  we  made  such 
fools  of  ourselves.  Damn  the  telegraphs.  We  have  awful 
news  from  Richmond  to-day.  It  would  make  me  sick  to 
write  it.  I  would  rather  have  the  army  whipped  than 
McClellan. 


IO2  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Camp  near  Boonville,  Miss.,  June  13,  1862. 
This  is  the  fourth  camp  that  we  have  had  to  call  as  above. 
We  have  lived  all  around  the  burg,  but  to-morrow  we  leave. 
We  have  just  got  nicely  arranged  here  after  working  hard  all 
day,  and  now  an  order  comes  to  move  brigade  headquarters 
back  to  Rienzi,  nearly  10  miles  toward  Corinth.  Bah!  how 
sick  it  makes  me  to  write  that  name.  I  haven't  seen  the  place 
yet,  and  have  no  desire  to.  I  feel  about  once  a  week  as  though 
a  little  skirmish  would  do  me  good,  but  I  don't  see  any  use 
in  getting  mad  because  they  won't  give  me  a  chance  to  fight. 
I  couldn't  feel  any  more  out  of  the  war  at  home  than  I  do 
here.  The  enemy  have  all  gone  further  into  Dixie  and  we're 
left  the  undisputed  occupants  of  this  neck.  Our  headquarters 
here  are  about  25  miles  south  of  Corinth,  and  we  have  pickets 
at  Baldwin,  15  miles  south  of  this.  Pope's  whole  division  has 
moved  back  to  just  this  side  of  Corinth  except  our  brigade, 
so  here  we  are,  maybe  1,200  effective  men,  doing  outpost  duty 
nearly  40  miles  in  advance  of  the  army.  Yesterday  the  colonel, 
his  A.  D.  C.  and  myself  rode  around  our  entire  picket  line,  I 
mean  the  part  of  our  brigade  that  is  guarding  the  M.  &  O. 
R.  R.  There  is  only  one  regiment  doing  this,  and  they 
are  strung  out  so  that  our  ride  was  full  40  miles.  When  we 
were  within  two  miles  of  our  camp,  coming  in,  I  was  gallop- 
ing along  ahead  of  the  colonel,  maybe  50  yards  ('twas  10 
p.  m.)  and  I  thought  I  heard  a  "halt,"  but  was  so  sure  there 
were  no  pickets  there  (full  a  dozen  miles  inside  of  our  corps' 
pickets)  that  I  didn't  mind  it  until  bang,  went  an  old  musket, 
and  the  bullet  zipped  considerably  over  my  head.  I  halted. 
They  were  some  infantry  pickets  whose  regiment  was  close 
by  in  the  woods  (some  two  miles).  Well,  we  hadn't  the 
countersign  and  they  wern't  going  to  let  us  pass.  The  colonel 
swore,  I  was  awful  hungry,  and  I  cussed,  the  A.  D.  C.  raved, 
but  the  picket  sergeant  was  immovable.  At  last  we  coaxed 
him  to  send  us  in  with  a  guard  to  his  colonel.  He  sent  six 
men  with  us  as  guard,  and  the  cuss  gave  orders  to  shoot  us 
if  we  tried  to  run.  The  chap  that  shot  was  one  of  the  guard, 
'and  he  told  me  that  he  shot  over  my  head  on  purpose  after 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  IO.3 

he  had  halloed  "halt"  several  times.  They  didn't  know  there 
was  cavalry  outside  of  them  and  said  they'd  shot  us  sure  if 
they  hadn't  seen  the  glimmer  of  my  straps  in  the  moonlight. 
We  got  their  colonel  up,  took  a  toddy  with  him  and — home. 
Did  I  ever  tell  you  about  my  darkey,  "Charley"?  We  got 
him  at  Cape  Girardeau.  He  informed  our  troops  where  his 
master  and  company  had  hidden  some  14  kegs  of  powder  and 
some  arms.  His  massa  found  out  he  had  informed  and  put 
him  in  irons  four  weeks.  He  escaped  and  came  to  us  We 
lost  him  at  Madrid  and  never  knew  what  had  become  of  him 
until  he  turned  up  here  a  week  since  He  had  been  sick  in  the 
Cairo  hospital.  He  comes  very  handy  to  me  when  I'm  a  little 
lazy,  which,  though,  is  only  30  or  40  times  a  day.  He  has  my 
boots  blacked  and  clothes  brushed  when  I  get  up  in  the  morn- 
ing, is  a  splendid  hand  to  take  care  of  a  horse,  and  all  told  a 
very  handy  institution.  He  wants  me  to  promise  to  take  him 
home  with  me.  If  you  will  have  him,  I'll  do  it.  He'd  be  right 
handy  about  our  house.  I  have  the  nicest  horse.  He  is  a 
perfect  staver.  A  little  tiresome  to  ride  because  so  anxious 
to  go  fast,  but  he  is  so  strong  and  never  tires.  After  that  ride 
yesterday  of  40  miles  through  a  broiling  sun  he  danced  along 
at  the  last  as  much  as  when  we  started.  We  were  coming  in 
from  a  reconnoisance  one  night  last  week  and  about  10  p.  m., 
dark  as  Egypt,  an  artillery  wagon  crowded  me  off  a  causeway 
and  Siegel  (my  horse)  went  into  the  mud  to  his  shoulders 
and  I,  over  his  head,  gracefully.  He  got  out  and  sloped,  and 
I  walked  into  camp.  'Twas  only  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  An  ar- 
tillery sergeant  caught  him  and  I  walked  out  to  the  road  just 
in  time  to  see  him  passing.  He  dismounted  very  spryly. 
Siegel  licks  my  hands  just  like  a  dog  and  he  will  follow  me 
away  from  his  oats  any  time.  After  he  got  away  from  me 
that  night  he  went  back  again  to  where  we  fell  and  that's 
where  the  sergeant  got  him.  He  is  a  large  bay  and  I  wouldn't 
take  anything  for  him.  I  was  riding  to-day  with  the  colonel, 
and  as  we  crossed  the  M.  and  O.  R.  R.  I  saw  a  couple  of 
fellows  300  or  400  yards  down  the  road  coming  towards  us, 
and  one  of  them  threw  up  his  hands.  I  thought  he  was  a  de- 


IO4  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

setter  and  waited.  They  proved  to  be  what  I  thought.  One 
was  an  Alabamian  and  the  other  from  Arkansas.  They  had 
seen  our  pickets  further  out  but  thought  them  Confederates 
and  slipped  by  them  through  the  brush.  I  took  them  to  the 
celonel,  and  since  then,  this  p.  m.,  nine  more  have  come  in,  and 
'tis  not  a  very  good  day  for  deserters  either.  These  people 
here  are  very  tired  of  war.  You  would  be  if  this  army  should 
march  through  Canton,  indeed  you  would.  You  can't  go  into 
hardly  a  house  here  but  what  they'll  ask  if  you  know  anything 
of  "my  son,"  "my  brother,"  or  "my  husband"  that  was  taken 
prisoner  at  this  place  or  that  place,  and  then  the  poor  creatures 
will  cry  as  though  their  hearts  were  broken  and  you  begin  to 
feel  queer  about  your  throat,  and — I  can't  stand  that  at  all. 
It  hurts  me  under  my  vest  to  see  these  poor  women  suffering, 
for  maybe  not  the  fault  of  those  they  mourn,  but  of  rich  men 
and  politicians  who  have  by  threats  and  lies  induced  these 
poor  devils  to  leave  their  families  to  die  of  starvation,  to  fight 
for,  they  can't  tell  what. 

I  have  just  seen  a  Mobile  Register  of  the  5th.  It  says  they 
have  taken  at  Richmond  7,000  prisoners,  80  pieces  artillery, 
wagons,  etc.,  innumerable  quartermaster  and  commissary 
stores  in  vast  quantities.  That  McClellan  is  driven  back  30 
miles  and  his  army  is  surrounded,  but  a  few  of  them  may 
escape  by  James  river.  Very  jocular  and  highly  edifying. 
They  also  claim  15,000  stands  small  arms  captured. 

Rienzi,  Tishomingo  Co.,  Miss.,  June  14,  '62. 

We  have  located  for  a  somewhat  permanent  stay,  as  the 
clumsy  order  said,  in  the  most  beautiful  little  town  I  have 
yet  found  in  Mississippi.  We  have  pitched  our  tents  in  a 
little  grove  in  the  edge  of  the  burgh  and  are  preparing  to  live. 

We  have  been  rioting  on  plums  and  blackberries  the  last 
week.  Dewberries  are  about  gone.  I  don't  think  the  plums 
are  as  good  as  ours.  There  is  already  much  suffering  amongst 
the  poor  here,  and  God  only  knows  how  these  people  can  live 
until  the  new  crop  of  corn  is  harvested.  The  wheat  is  all 
cut  these  ten  days,  but  ten  acres  of  it  will  hardly  keep  one 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  105 

person  a  year.  Cotton  is  not  planted  this  year  to  any  extent,  a 
tax  of  $25  per  bale  being  laid  on  all  each  man  raises  over  one 
bale.  I  told  you  how  we  rode  out  to  Baldwin  on  the  I2th;  well, 
this  morning  the  enemy  nearly  surrounded  our  picket  there 
and  killed  or  captured  a  few  of  them,  scattering  the  rest.  They 
have  nearly  all  got  in.  There  are  no  troops  between  here  anc* 
the  picket  at  Baldwin,  25  miles,  and  this  little  body  is  12  miles 
ahead  of  the  main  army.  'Tis  an  outrage  to  post  troops  in 
this  manner,  and  if  they  all  get  cut  off  (the  two  battalions  on 
picket)  it  won't  surprise  me.  There  are  not  many  slaves  here, 
very  few  planters  work  more  than  25,  though  60  miles  fur- 
ther down  many  have  from  300  to  400  each.  We  don't  think 
these  are  large  bodies  that  are  troubling  oui  outposts,  but 
they  will  hover  around  so  long  as  the  picket  is  advanced  thus 
far. 

Rienzi,  Tishomingo  Co.,  Miss.,  June  16,  1862. 
We  are  camped  here  enjoying  ourselves  grandly.  As  our 
brigade  is  scattered  over  a  line  of  50  miles  we  just  pitch  our 
headquarters  in  the  quietest  spot  we  can  find  independent  of 
the  command.  There  are  only  two  companies  now  out  of  the 
24  within  8  miles  of  us,  and  all  we  have  to  do  with  any  of 
them  is  to  send  them  orders  and  receive  their  communications 
and  forward  them.  In  the  heat  of  the  day  we  read  and 
lounge  in  our  tents,  and  mornings  we  go  to  the  creek  and 
bathe  and  then  ride  a  dozen  or  so  miles  to  keep  our  horses 
exercised.  I  have  a  clerk,  too,  for  my  copying,  etc.,  so  I'm  a 
gentleman.  Evenings  I  visit  generally  some  of  the  half  dozen 
families  within  a  half  mile  of  us  of  whom  I  borrow  books 
and  in  return  furnish  them  with  occasional  papers.  We  have 
splendid  water  and  my  health  is  perfect.  This  is  the  healthiest 
part  of  the  South. 

Rienzi,  Tishomingo  Co.,  Miss.,  June  19,  1862. 
This  is  one  of  the  few  days  that  remind  one  of  Illinois, 
although  there  are  very  few  nights  that  might  not  remind  a 
Greenlander  of  his  home.    I  think  there  has  not  been  a  night 


106  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

yet  that  I  have  not  slept  under  three  blankets,  and  there  have 
been  many  nights  that  I  would  have  used  a  dozen  if  I  had  had 
them.  The  natives  say  that  'tis  the  Gulf  breeze  that  makes 
the  air  so  cool  after  about  7  or  8  p.  m.  I  wish  that  it  would 
get  along  about  eight  hours  earlier  daily ;  but  to-day  there  are 
clouds  kiting  about  so  o'erhead  that  the  sun  don't  amount  to 
much  only  for  light,  and  'tis  cool  enough  to  make  undercloth- 
ing comfortable.  The  colonel,  A.  D.  C.  and  myself  visited  the 
camp  of  the  /th  Illinois  yesterday  at  Jacinto.  We  found  them 
surrounded  with  a  brush  parapet,  felled  trees,  etc.,  ready  as 
they  said  for  a  twelve-hour's  fight.  They'd  been  visited  by  a 
scare.  There  is  no  enemy  within  15  miles  of  them  and  hasn't 
been.  They  are  camped  in  the  suburbs  of  a  beautiful  little 
town  that  fell  in  among  the  hills  in  a  very  tasty  manner  (for 
a  Mississippi  town).  In  one  little  valley  near  a  fine  residence 
there  are  three  springs  bubbling  up  in  line  and  within  a  foot 
of  each  other,  which  are  so  independent  that  each  furnishes  a 
different  kind  of  water.  The  first  pure,  cold,  soft  water  with- 
out taste,  another  chalybeate,  and  the  third,  strong  sulphur. 
The  waters  of  the  three  fall  into  one  little  basin  and  run  thence 
into  a  bathhouse  twenty  steps  distant.  There  is  a  neat  vine 
covered  arbor  over  the  springs  with  seats  arranged  within, 
and  altogether  'tis  a  neat  little  place — good  to  water  Yankee 
horses  at.  There  were  several  gangs  of  negroes  at  work  in 
the  corn  and  cotton  fields  along  the  road  yesterday,  and  I 
thanked  God  they  were  not  in  Illinois.  Candidly,  I'd  rather  see 
them  and  a  whole  crop  of  grindstones  dumped  into  the  Gulf, 
than  have  so  many  of  them  in  our  State,  as  there  are  even  here. 
Yet,  it  don't  look  square  to  see  the  women,  if  they  are  niggers, 
plowing.  I  have  no  reason  for  the  last  sentence,  only  it  isn't 
in  my  opinion  what  petticoats  were  designed  for.  Talking 
about  niggers,  these  headquarters  are  fully  up  with  any- 
thing in  that  Potomac  mob  on  the  colored  question.  They 
got  Jeff  Davis'  coachman.  What  of  it?  J.  D.  isn't  anybody 
but  a  broken-backed-politician-of-a-civilian,  and  of  course  his 
coachman  is  no  better  than  a  white  man.  But  we,  we  have, 
listen,  General  Beauregard's  nigger  "toddy  mixer,"  and  my 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  IO/ 

experience  fully  proves  to  the  satisfaction  of  your  brother  that 
the  general's  taste  in  selecting  a  toddy  artist  is  fine.  He  is 
a  sharp  cuss  (the  nigger).  He  left  them  at  Tupelo  day  before 
yesterday,  p.  m.,  slipped  by  the  pickets  while  'twas  light  with- 
out their  seeing  him,  but  after  dark  he  was  suddenly  halted 
by  their  videttes  when  within  ten  feet  of  them.  He  ran  by 
them  and  they  fired,  but  as  usual  missed.  He  is  really  the  ser- 
vant of  Colonel  Clough,  of  Memphis,  but  the  colonel  is  now  on 
Beauregard's  staff,  and  John  (the  boy)  was  selected  as  drink 
mixer  for  the  general-pro  tern.  He  reports  that  Price  started 
with  the  flower  of  the  flock,  only  some  3,000  posies,  to  Virginia, 
but  said  posies,  like  their  vegetable  brethren,  wilt  and  droop 
by  the  wayside,  and  unlike  them,  scoot  off  through  the  brush 
at  every  chance,  and  that  is  the  last  of  them  as  far  as  soldier- 
ing is  concerned.  Hundreds  of  the  dissatisfied  Rebels  pre- 
tended sickness  and  lay  by  the  roadside  until  the  army  passed 
and  then  heeled  it  for  home.  All  the  prisoners  and  deserters 
that  we  get  concur  in  saying  that  at  least  10,000  have  de- 
serted since  the  evacuation.  A  couple  of  very  fine-looking  young 
fellows,  Kentuckians,  came  in  this  p.  m.  Their  regiment  with 
two  others  are  the  outpost  guard  between  the  Rebel  Army  and 
ours.  They  were  in  a  skirmish  the  other  day  at  Baldwin, 
where  two  of  our  companies  were  surprised  and  lost  six  men, 
taken  prisoners.  There  were  60  of  our  boys  and  they  reported 
400  Rebels.  These  deserters  say  there  were  only  42  Rebels; 
but  the  next  day  700  Rebels  came  onto  75  of  our  men  and 
the  chivalry  were  put  to  flight  in  a  perfect  rout.  So  it  goes. 
There  was  a  flag  of  truce  came  in  last  night  to  our  picket. 
Brought  a  dozen  packages  for  Halleck  and  company,  with  a 
number  of  letters  for  Northern  friends,  all  unsealed.  Several 
of  the  envelopes  were  of  common  brown  wrapping  paper. 
There  are  a  good  many  things  about  this  advance  of  an  army 
that  are  more  interesting  than  the  main  army  the  infants  know 
of.  We  cavalry  feel  as  safe  here  as  in  Illinois,  but  General 
Ashboth  keeps  calling  on  Pope  for  more  men  all  the  time. 

What  do  you  think  we'll  have  to  eat  to-morrow?    Answer: 
Lamb,  roast  goose  and  liver   (beef),  blackberry  pies,  plum 


108  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

pudding,  new  peas,  string  beans,  onions,  beets,  fresh  apple 
sauce,  etc.  That's  a  fact,  and  we  have  a  cow  that  furnishes 
us  milk,  too,  and  a  coop  full  of  chickens,  maccaroni  for  our 
soup,  and  we  get  all  the  beef  brains. 

Tell  Colonel  Kellogg  that  the  boys  are  talking  about  him 
yet,  like  a  lot  of  chickens  for  their  lost  "Mar."  The  7th  has 
plenty  to  do  now,  if  I  wasn't  so  tired  I'd  write  you  a  copy  of 
the  orders  I  sent  them  to-day. 

The  enemy  keeps  annoying  our  outposts,  and  rumors  come 
to-day  of  their  being  on  the  way  for  this  place  to  surprise  us. 
All  bosh,  I  suppose.  I  hope  they  are  too  gentlemanly  to  dis- 
turb us  while  we  are  doing  as  well  as  we  are  here.  It  would 
be  worse  than  the  old  lady  where  I  stayed  night  before  last. 
I  went  to  bed  at  12 130,  and  about  5  she  sent  a  servant  up  for 
the  sheets  to  wash.  The  joke  was  on  our  family,  but  I  told  her 
that  she  had  better  let  me  roll  over  the  whole  house  if  she 
had  to  wash  up  after  me,  for  it  would  improve  the  health  of  her 
family  to  scrub  the  premises  and  them.  Fine  people  here. 
They've  commenced  bushwhacking.  One  of  my  orderlies  was 
shot  through  the  thigh  night  before  last  while  carrying  some 
dispatches.  "Concilate,"  "noble  people,"  "high  spirited."  Oh ! 
Strangulate  is  the  better  direction. 

Headquarters  1st  Brig.  Cav.  Army  of  the  Miss., 

Rienzi,  Miss.,  June  29,  1862. 

What  the  deuce  this  army  is  trying  to  do,  I  cannot  guess. 
Buell's  corps  moved  off  in  an  easterly  direction  two  weeks 
since.  Grant's  is,  I  think,  between  Corinth  and  Memphis,  and 
the  headquarters  of  Pope  is  about  four  miles  south  of  Corinth, 
while  his  army  is  scattered  for  75  miles  west  of  here.  The  left 
wing,  Plummer's  and  Jeff  C.  Davis'  divisions  moved  through 
here  yesterday,  bound  for  Holly  Springs,  60  miles  due  west. 
General  Ashboth's  reserve  division,  stationed  here,  have  thrown 
up  quite  extensive  works,  fronting  the  enemy,  who  are  not  in 
any  force,  within  75  miles  of  us.  Our  cavalry  division  is  do- 
ing the  outpost  duty  on  a  line  40  miles  long,  running  east  and 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  ICK) 

west,  and  about  20  miles  south  of  Corinth,  with  videttes  out 
eight  or  ten  miles  further,  and  scouting  parties  go  15  miles 
below  the  videttes.  We  are  losing  about  two  men  a  day 
skirmishing.  I  noticed  a  statement  in  the  papers  that  20,000 
new-made  graves  could  be  seen  between  Corinth  and  the 
Tennessees,  caused  by  the  swamp  miasmas,  etc.,  during  our 
approaching  the  enemy.  We  don't  believe  that  there  have  been 
400  deaths  from  disease  since  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  250 
will  cover  the  number  of  deaths  from  wounds  received  since 
that  fight.  You  know  there  have  been  an  immense  number  of 
sick  men  furloughed,  but  that  was  to  satisfy  the  State  govern- 
nors  more  than  necessity.  For  instance,  John  Shriner  went 
home  on  sick  furlough  and  you  know  his  condition.  There 
were  thousands  of  such  cases.  I  think  the  health  of  our  army 
never  was  better  than  now.  I  notice  that  our  Illinois  troops 
stand  this  climate  very  much  better  than  the  men  from  Michi- 
gan and  Iowa.  Do  not  think  we  have  more  than  one-third 
the  sickness  in  our  regiment  that  the  troops  from  the  last 
named  States  have.  There  is  a  prospect  of  our  brigade's  being 
ordered  to  Ripley  this  week.  I  am  well  satisfied  here,  but  have 
no  doubt  will  flourish  equally  well  there.  They  charge  out- 
rageous prices  for  eatables  throughout  the  country.  Half- 
grown  chickens  25  cents  each,  eggs  25  cents  per  dozen,  but- 
termilk 20  cents  per  quart,  etc.  We  keep  a  cow  for  our  head- 
quarters, though,  that  supplies  us  with  milk,  and  we  have  six 
hens  that  lay  as  many  eggs  every  day,  and  my  colored  boy 
plays  sharp  and  buys  new  potatoes,  peas,  beans,  etc.,  for  half 
what  I  can,  on  the  strength  of  his  chumming  it  with  colored 
folks  of  the  farms.  There  was  a  regiment  raised  in  this 
country  that  are  now  flourishing  in  Camp  Douglas.  A  lady 
played  the  piano  and  sang  for  me  last  night  that  has  a  husband 
and  brother  residing  in  said  camp.  Mourning  goods  are  quite 
fashionable  here,  and  I  see  limping  around  town  several  tfiat 
lost  a  limb,  each,  in  some  of  the  early  battles.  There  are  a 
few  that  I  have  met  who  were  taken  prisoners  by  our  troops, 
one  of  them  at  Manassas,  and  paroled.  Deserters  come  in 
yet  every  day.  An  intelligent  man  that  belonged  to  an  Arkan- 


IIO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

sas  regiment  came  in  yesterday.  He  says  that  he  thinks  the 
main  body  of  the  Southern  Army  started  for  East  Tennessee, 
via  Chattanooga  the  day  after  he  left  them.  Breckenridge's 
brigade  has  gone  to  Vicksburg,  etc.  I  would  like  to  send  you 
some  of  the  late  orders  issued  by  Rosecrans,  if  it  were  not 
so  much  trouble  to  copy  them,  in  relation  to  police  of  camp 
and  discipline.  He  looks  after  the  health  of  men  more  than 
any  general  I  have  served  under 

People  here  are  very  indignant  about  our  taking  all  their 
provisions  away  from  them,  and  then  appealing  to  the  North 
to  contribute  to  keep  them  from  starving.  There  is  some  truth 
in  the  idea,  but  not  much.  They  certainly  do  need  eatables 
here,  and  the  North  will  have  to  furnish  them  free  or  take 
scrip.  Dinner :  Blackberry  jam,  pie  and  raw  berries.  Oceans 
of  them  here.  Day  before  yesterday  the  Rebels  surprised  one 
of  our  picket  parties  and  captured  1st  and  C  men,  and  yes- 
terday they  captured  another.  But  Company  K  (Nelson's) 
followed  them  12  or  15  miles  and  I  think  got  the  prisoners 
back  with  one  Rebel,  several  horses  and  lots  of  traps.  I  got 
a  letter  from  you  a  few  days  since  relating  the  affecting  parting 
scene  between  those  spirits  who  left  home,  etc.,  for  three 
months,  and  the  sweet  spirits  that  wept  so  heart  breakingly 
thereat.  I  think  your  ideas  were  not  unsound  in  regard 
to  the  parting  scenes,  and  if  you  had  boxed  a  few  ears  and 
pulled  a  little  hair  belonging  to  the  ninnies  that  so  abused  the 
noble  art  of  crying  that  day,  you  would  have  been  excusable 
in  my  eyes.  I  must  take  a  nap  as  quick  as  my  boy  comes  back 
to  keep  the  flies  away. 

n  p.  m.,  29th. — There  is  talk  among  the  officers  that  Buell 
with  60,000  men  is  en  route  for  Atlanta,  Ga.,  intending  to 
occupy  that  city,  and  thus  cut  off  connection  between  the 
eastern  and  western  portions  of  the  Rebel  Army.  It  will  be 
a  bold  strike  and  looks  safe ;  but  it  seems  to  me,  from  a  glance 
at  the  map,  that  the  occupation  of  Montgomery,  Ala.  would 
more  effectually  accomplish  that  end,  for  then  there  would  be 
no  railroad  line  open  to  the  Rebels  (we  holding  the  Memphis 
and  Charleston)  while  there  are  two  lines  running  east  from 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  1 1 1 

Montgomery,  only  one  of  which  a  force  at  Atlanta  could  cover. 
A  deserter  came  in  this  evening  who  says  that  they  are  organiz- 
ing the  army  at  Tupelo,  mustering  the  men  as  five  years'  regu- 
lars, with  promises  of  furloughs  until  this  war  is  over.  That 
England  and  France  have  decided  that  the  Southern  States 
shall  all  have  a  chance  at  the  ballot  box,  and  must,  within  60 
days,  say  whether  they  will  cleave  to  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  or  be  independent;  if  the  latter,  those  govern- 
ments will  sustain  them  and  thus  end  the  war,  and  if  the  for- 
mer, the  war  will  be  ended  accordingly.  So  they  are  organiz- 
ing a  regular  army  upon  the  supposition  that  they  will  be  an 
independent  confederacy.  The  above  shows  they  are  able  to 
start  as  huge  a  lie  in  their  camps  as  we  can  in  ours.  I  wouldn't 
have  believed  it  before. 

The  colonel,  A.  D.  C.  and  myself  took  tea  with  General 
Ashboth  this  evening.  He  is  such  a  pleasant  man.  Has  a 
great  liking  for  pets.  He  has  a  tremendous  large  dog,  who 
lays  his  head  on  the  table  right  by  the  general's  plate  during 
meal  time,  and  he  gets  his  share  at  the  first  table.  On 
the  other  side  of  him  two  little  Indian  ponies  range  themselves 
as  quick  as  he  sits  down,  and  he  lays  biscuits  on  the  corner 
of  the  table  for  them,  which  they  gobble  with  the  greatest 
relish.  He  spreads  biscuits  for  one  pony  with  sugar,  and  with 
salt  for  the  other.  His  conversation  is  divided  about  equally 
between  his  ponies,  the  dog,  and  his  other  guests.  The  ponies 
he  got  in  Arkansas,  and  they  are  the  prettiest  little  fellows 
imaginable.  The  general  is  one  of  the  most  polite  and  kind 
men  I  ever  saw.  His  troops  all  love  him.  He  carries  his  right 
arm  in  a  sling  yet  from  a  wound  received  at  Elkhorn. 

If  you'd  multiply  all  the  bugs,  say  by  10,000,  you'd  have 
something  near  the  number  that  visit  me  nightly.  They  are 
of  all  sizes  less  than  a  door  knob,  and  the  shapes  and  colors  are 
innumerable.  When  they're  bumping  against  you  by  candle 
light,  if  you  were  not  acclimated,  you  would  swear  someone 
was  brickbatting  you. 

We  could  overrun  the  whole  West  and  Southwest  as  fast 
as  we  could  travel,  with  the  army  we  had  here,  if  it  were 


112  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

policy.  Vicksburg  cannot  stand  two  hours  when  attacked. 
But  it  has  leaked  out  at  headquarters  that  we  are  letting 
them  think  they  are  holding  us  in  check,  so  that  they  will 
keep  all  their  forces  in  the  West  until  after  the  big  fight 
at  Richmond.  I  have  heard  from  Captain  Nelson  that  Sammy 
Nutt  distinguished  himself  in  the  skirmish  yesterday.  He 
captured  that  prisoner  I  spoke  of.  Captain  says  Sam  was  the 
head  man  in  the  chase  and  that  no  man  ever  behaved  bet- 
ter. Sam's  pistol  went  off  accidentally  after  he  had  captured 
the  secesh  and  the  bullet  came  within  half  an  inch  of  knocking 
a  hole  in  the  Rebel's  head.  The  boys  all  give  Sam  a  great  deal 
of  praise.  'Twas  daring  of  the  captain  to  run  his  handful 
of  men  almost  into  the  enemy's  camp,  and  25  miles  from  any 
support ;  but  if  any  company  can  do  it,  Company  K  can.  Cap- 
tain Nelson  looks  well  but  grumbles  at  being  brought  back  from 
the  front  to  where  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  rest.  His  men 
feel  the  same  way.  For  my  part  I  don't  consider  myself  in  the 
war  here  any  more  than  I  would  be  in  Canton. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  113 


III. 


July  14,  1862  to  June  4,  1863.  Rosecran's  orders  as  to  rights  of  citi- 
zens and  treatment  of  slaves.  Comments  thereon.  Guarding  a 
hundred  miles  of  railroad.  Still  fretting  at  inaction.  Bogus 
money  imposed  upon  the  ignorant.  Growing  insubordination  of 
the  slaves.  Near  view  of  the  civilizing  influences  of  slavery. 
About  to  be  mustered  out  as  battalion  adjutant  offered  three  other 
desirable  staff  positions.  Prefers  active  service  in  the  field;  re- 
turns home  to  raise  a  company.  Succeeds  and  is  elected  captain 
of  Company  G,  103  Illinois  Infantry.  Returns  to  the  front.  Gives 
a  condensation  of  prevailing  rumors.  Experience  of  jayhawking. 
On  provost  guard  duty.  Demoralization  of  pillage.  Rebel  raid 
on  Holly  Springs.  Two  cowardly  surrenders.  Wrongfully  ar- 
rested. Lonesome  night  ride.  Infantry  turned  into  cavalry  in  a 
night.  Indignation  at  home  "Copperheads."  More  wordy  skirm- 
ishing with  secesh  ladies.  Too  many  Negro  refugees.  Desertions 
frequent.  Demoralization  caused  by  "Copperhead"  journalism. 
Dull  round  of  picket  duty  and  camp  guard.  Devastation  caused 
by  the  war.  On  board  of  survey  to  assess  damages.  Two  dra- 
matic incidents.  Visit  to  Memphis.  Brigade  officer  once  more. 
Scouting  and  rebuilding  bridges.  Pressing  horses  and  mules  and 
confiscating  supplies.  On  court  martial  duty.  A  Union  heroine 
scout. 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI, 

July  14,  1862. 

General  Orders  No.  92: 

For  the  information  of  all  in  the  command,  the  following 
explanations  are  given,  in  reference  to  the  rights  and  duties  of 
citizens  of  the  States  in  which  we  may  be  stationed. 


114  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

1.  All  citizens  of  the  States  claiming  the   rights,  and 
holding  themselves  bound  to  the  duties  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States  are  entitled  to  the  same  protection  of  person 
and  property,  which  we  claim  for  ourselves. 

2.  We  hold  citizens  to  the  performance  of  active  duties, 
only  when  they  receive  protection ;  if  left  without  protec- 
tion,  they  are   bound   only   to   good   will   and    abstinence 
from  all  acts  of  hostility  to  the  Government. 

3.  Persons  denying  that  they  are  citizens  of  the  United 
States,    repudiating   the    duties    of  citizens,    by    words    or 
actions,  are  entitled  to  no  rights,  save  those  which  the  laws 
of  war  and  humanity  accord  to  their  characters. 

If  they  claim  to  belong  to  a  hostile  government,  they 
have  the  rights  of  belligerents,  and  can  neither  justly  claim, 
nor  have  anything  more  from  the  army.  If  they  are  found 
making  war,  without  lawful  organization  or  commission, 
they  are  enemies  of  mankind,  and  have  the  rights  due  to 
pirates  and  robbers,  which  it  will  be  a  duty  to  accord  them. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  admit  the  slaves  of  loyal  masters 
within  our  lines,  or  use  them  without  compensation,  or 
prevent  their  recovery,  when  consistent  with  the  interest 
of  the  service. 

The  slaves  of  our  enemies  may  come  or  go  wherever 
they  please,  provided  they  do  not  interfere  with  the  rules 
and  orders  of  camp  and  dicipline.  They  deserve  more  at 
our  hands  than  their  masters. 

By  order  of  General  ROSECRANS, 

(Signed)     W.  L.  ELLIOTT, 

Brig.  Gen'L  and  Chief  of  Staff. 
(Official,  R.  O.  Self  ridge,  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen' I.) 

Camp  at  Rienzi,  July  17,  1862. 

I  think  there  is  more  point  and  policy  in  that  General  Order 
92  than  in  any  one  that  has  yet  been  issued  in  the  West,  or 
East  either  for  that  matter ;  but  still  I  do  not  think  it  remark- 
able for  perspicuity,  and  it  is  neither  as  strong  nor  as  definite 
as  the  army  demands.  If  I  know  anything  of  the  "laws  of  war 
and  humanity,"  the  soldiers  will  bless  "92"  for  one  thing,  its 
relieving  them  from  guarding  the  property  of  secessionists, 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  115 

and  if  they  don't  make  sundry  potato  patches,  cabbage  gardens 
and  fields  of  roasting  ears  that  I  know  of,  "hop"  'twill  surprise 
me  much.  There  will  be  some  wondrous  sudden  conversions 
to  Unionism  when  these  butternuts  get  the  drift  of  that  order. 
An  old  pup  in  this  town  that  drank  "Southern  Independence  or 
the  World  in  Flames"  the  other  evening,  in  the  presence  of 
several  United  States  officers  has  Union  soldiers  guarding  his 
property,  to  preserve  it  from  the  Northern  vandals,  and  he  has 
used  language  equally  insulting,  times  without  number,  yet 
the  guard  is  kept  up.  I  suppose,  to  conciliate  him.  General 
Ashboth  visits  all  the  secesh  and  rides  around  town  with  the 
daughter  of  the  man  I've  been  speaking  of,  who  is  more  in- 
tensely secesh  than  her  father,  if  that  is  possible.  Maybe  I'm 
jealous  of  him,  for  the  girl  is  very  handsome,  but  I  don't  think 
a  United  States  general  at  all  excusable  in  such  conduct, 
though  it  may  be  overlooked  in  a  lieutenant.  Did  you  see  Beau- 
regard's  answer  to  Halleck?  I  honestly  think  there  is  more 
truth  in  that  document,  than  in  any  other  military  paper  of 
the  kind  I  have  seen.  Suppose  you  have  seen  Granger's  re- 
view thereof.  You  notice  he  don't  touch  any  of  the  principal 
points  and  shows  his  whole  object  in  publishing  the  article, 
in  these  four  words,  "I  led  the  pursuit."  I'll  swear  we  haven't 
taken,  in  deserters,  prisoners  and  sick,  since  the  evacuation  of 
Corinth,  500  men  (although  hundreds  have  doubtless  deserted 
who  did  not  enter  our  lines.)  I  know  this  because  we  have  had 
the  advance  all  the  time,  and  on  the  only  roads  there  have  been 
fighting  and  prisoners,  and  all  the  deserters  have  passed 
through  our  hands.  There  were  about  18  cars  burned,  but  the 
ruins  show  there  was  nothing  of  much  value  on  them.  'Twas 
not  intentional,  of  course,  but  Elliott  did  burn  several  men  in 
the  depot,  or  else  the  people  of  Boonville  are  liars,  to  a  man. 
That  fight  the  other  day  at  Boonville  amounted  to  nothing. 
The  enemy's  official  report  of  their  loss  is  four  killed  and  ten 
wounded.  There  is  an  awful  sight  of  bombast  and  lying  about 
army  reports.  Beat  politicians  all  hollow.  We  have  had  very 
heavy  rains  for  the  last  36  hours,  and  as  water  can  now  be  pro- 
cured on  the  hitherto  dry  ground  between  the  armies,  I  expect 


Il6  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

some  cavalry  skirmishing)  at  least,  and  if  the  enemy  is  yet  ill 
force  at  Tupelo,  now  is  the  time  for  them  to  attack  us,  for 
our  army  is  scattered  for  300  miles,  almost  along  the  Tennes- 
see line,  and  cannot  be  concentrated  in  time  to  resist  a  large 
force.  Many  of  the  officers  expect  a  big  fight,  but  your  brother 
don't. 

July  19,  1862. 

I  don't  know  whether  I  have  any  business  sending  such  a 
document  as  1  enclose,  but  guess  its  no  difference.  Two  spies 
came  in  to-night  and  report  that  there  are  not  more  than  15,000 
or  20,000  of  the  enemy  left  at  Tupelo  and  Saltillo.  Bragg  took 
a  large  force  with  him  and  went  over  in  the  direction  of  Chat- 
tanooga a  few  days  since.  A  fortnight,  nearer  a  month,  since 
we  had  quite  a  large  force  stationed  at  Boonville.  One  of  the 
men  started  to  go  back  to  Rienzi  on  business,  and  had  not  been 
heard  of  since  until  day  before  yesterday,  when  his  body  was 
found  midway  between  the  two  places  with  four  bullet  holes 
through  it.  It  lay  some  distance  from  the  road,  and  was  dis- 
covered by  a  man  of  the  2d  Brigade  while  looking  for  water. 
He  was  undoubtedly  murdered  by  some  citizen.  Day  before 
yesterday  Mrs.  Pierce,  wife  of  a  captain  in  the  36th  Illinois, 
rode  out  in  an  ambulance,  escorted  by  a  corporal,  to  get  some 
fruit  in  the  country.  A  party  of  guerrillas  gobbled  the  party 
up  while  they  were  inside  of  our  pickets,  and  took  them  to 
Ripley.  They  sent  Mrs.  Pierce  back  yesterday.  She  was  well 
treated.  I  guess  there  are  no  hopes  of  a  fight  there  until  au- 
tumn. I'm  getting  tired  of  doing  nothing,  although  I  certainly 
should  be  satisfied,  having  easier  times  than  almost  any  one  in 
the  service. 

Halleck  left  here  yesterday  for  Washington.  Trains  are 
running  down  here  from  Corinth  every  day  now,  so  we  are  only 
three  days  behind  the  dates  of  papers  received,  which  is  better 
than  eight  or  ten,  as  heretofore.  We  have  had  the  most 
splendid  rains  for  a  few  days,  and  the  weather  is  very  season- 
able in  temperature.  We  are  living  almost  wholly  on  fruit: 
apples,  pears  and  blackberries,  fresh,  and  peaches  and  straw- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  1 1/ 

berries  canned.  Don't  Want  for  anything,  but  I  still  (so  un- 
reasonable is  man)  at  times,  think  that  I'm  not  enjoying  my- 
self as  well  as  I  used  to  in  the  8th.  I  know  I  couldn't  stay 
out  of  the  service  while  the  war  continues,  but  I  would  like 
so  well  to  have  peace  once  more,  and  be  civilized  awhile. 
There's  a  good  time  coming.  Don't  it  come  slowly?  I  write 
all  the  colonel's  letters  now  except  those  to  his  wife,  and 
shouldn't  wonder  if  he'd  have  me  do  that  next.  At  first  he 
used  to  read  them  over  very  closely,  but  now  he  often  signs 
without  asking  what  they  are  about.  To-night  he  told  me  was 
going  to  make  me  inspector  general  for  brigade.  Making  two 
generals  out  of  one  lieutenant  isn't  fair.  I'm  too  lazy  and 
modest  for  such  a  position  and  think  I  can  coax  him  to  appoint 
a  chap  I  have  my  eye  upon. 

Headquarters,  1st  Brigade  Cavalry  Division, 

Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  July  27,  1862  (Sunday). 
We  received  orders  for  our  brigade  to  march  on  the  iQth, 
and  started  the  2ist.  We  only  made  Jacinto  that  night,  when 
the  colonel  and  myself  stayed  with  Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  who  is 
a  very  approachable,  pleasant  and  perfectly  soldier-like  man. 
There  is  a  strong  sprinkling  in  him,  though,  of  the  Regular 
Army  and  West  Point.  Next  day  we  rejoined  the  command 
and  marched  15  miles,  camped  at  Bear  Creek,  22  miles  west  of 
this  place  and  just  on  the  Mississippi  and  Alabama  line.  Thurs- 
day we  joined  General  Morgan's  division  and  that  night  the 
brigade  camped  within  four  miles  of  Tuscumbia,  and  the 
headquarters  came  on  into  town.  This  is  a  perfect  little  Eden. 
Houses  for  2,200  people  with  only  1,200  living  here  at  present. 
We  stayed  at  the  hotel  Thursday  night,  and  the  old  negro  who 
lighted  me  to  my  room  amused  me  considerably  with  his  ac- 
count of  General  Turchin's  proceedings  here.  Turchin  brought 
the  first  federal  force  across  the  Tennessee  in  Alabama,  and  I 
guess  he  "went  it  loosely."  The  old  Negro  said  that  he  only 
had  1,200  men  and  brought  no  luggage,  knapsacks  or  anything 
else  with  him,  but  went  away  with  300  wagons,  and  everything 


Il8  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

there  was  in  the  country  worth  taking.  That  his  men  made 
the  white  women  (wouldn't  let  the  colored  women)  do  their 
cooking  and  washing,  and  that  although  they  only  brought  one 
suit  of  clothes,  they  put  on  a  new  one  every  morning  and  al- 
ways looked  as  though  they  had  just  stepped  from  a  bandbox. 
People  here  hate  General  Mitchell's  whole  command  as  they 

do  the  d 1,  and  many  of  them  more.    Well,  we've  settled 

once  more,  and  I'll  be  contented  if  allowed  to  stay  here  for 
sometime.  We're  guarding  about  100  miles  of  railroad  from 
luka  to  Decatur,  and  it  promises  to  be  pretty  rough  work.  Day 
before  yesterday  a  guerilla  party  swooped  down  on  a  station 
24  miles  east  of  here  where  General  Thomas  had  160  men  and 
captured  all  but  20  of  them.  We  are  relieving  General  Thomas' 
command  from  duty  here,  but  the  Rebels  saved  us  the  trouble 
of  relieving  that  party.  We  sent  out  a  force  yesterday  of  three 
companies  and  the  Rebels  surprised  and  killed  and  captured 
20  of  them.  I  have  just  heard  that  there  has  been  a  fight  eight 
miles  south  of  here  to-day,  between  our  cavalry  and  the  Rebels, 
no  particulars  yet.  'Tis  the  3d  Michigan  that  has  suffered  so 
far.  The  7th  Illinois  are  out  now  after  the  party  that  surprised 
the  Michiganders  yesterday,  but  have  not  heard  of  them  since 
they  started  yesterday  p.  m.  We  are  quartered  in  the  house 
of  a  right  good  secesh,  and  are  enjoying  his  property  hugely. 
His  pigs  will  be  ripe  within  a  week,  and  we'll  guard  them  after 
our  style.  The  old  fashion  is  played  out  as  far  as  this  brigade 
is  concerned.  We  take  what  is  necessary  and  give  vouchers, 
which  say  the  property  will  be  paid  for  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
on  proof  of  loyalty.  This  valley  is  60  or  80  miles  long,  15 
miles  wide  and  the  most  beautiful  country  imaginable.  It  is  now 
one  vast  cornfield.  The  residences  in  this  town  are  superb,  and 
the  grounds  most  beautifully  ornamented  and  filled  with  shrub- 
bery. There  is  a  spring  here  that  throws  out  17,000  cubic  feet 
of  water  each  minute.  It  supplies  the  town.  General  Thomas, 
whom  we  relieved,  has  gone  to  Huntsville  to  join  Buell.  I 
think  they  are  going  to  Chattanooga  then.  People  are  intensely 
secesh  here,  and  whine  most  mournfully  when  compelled  to 
take  the  oath,  or  even  to  give  their  parole  of  honor  not  to  give 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  IIQ 

information  to  the  enemy.  Our  headquarters  is  a  mile  from 
any  troops,  just  for  the  quiet  of  the  thing.  Peaches  are  just 
in  season  now,  and  there  are  oceans  of  them  here.  Blackber- 
ries are  still  to  be  found,  and  we  have  plenty  of  apples. 

The  weather  is  beautiful,  not  too  warm  and  still  require  my 
double  blanket  every  night,  and  often  cool  at  that.  We  have 
information  that  Hardee  with  a  force  is  marching  on  this 
place,  and  it  is  the  most  probable  rumor  that  I  have  heard 
since  the  evacuation.  Time  will  tell. 

Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  August  3,  1862. 

In  the  last  15  days  I  have  only  written  you  once;  partly  be- 
cause I  have  been  so  busy,  more,  because  of  my  laziness. 
There  is  but  little  save  rumors  that  can  be  of  any  interest 
to  you  from  here,  and  shall  not  inflict  any  of  them  on  you, 
for  the  newspapers  have  certainly  surfeited  everyone's  taste  for 
that  article.  All  this  blowing  and  howling  we  have  in  the  pa- 
pers of  raids  everywhere,  and  overwhelming  forces  of  the 
enemy  confronting  us  at  all  points,  is,  I  candidly  believe,  part 
of  the  plan  to  raise  volunteers.  It  certainly  is  one  grand  hum- 
bug as  far  as  this  field  is  concerned.  Every  officer  here  that 
knows  anything  about  the  condition  of  the  enemy,  their  posi- 
tions and  numbers,  believes  that  if  our  army  were  concen- 
trated and  set  at  the  work,  we  could  clear  out  all  the  enemy 
south  of  this  and  west  of  Georgia  in  a  short  two  months. 
The  soldiers  are  all  anxious  to  begin,  all  tired  of  inaction, 
all  clamoring  for  the  war  to  be  ended  by  a  vigorous  campaign, 
we  running  our  chances  of  being  whipped  by  the  enemy, 
instead  of  waiting  until  next  spring,  and  then  being  forced  by 
bankruptcy  to  abandon  our  work.  The  way  we  are  scattered 
in  this  country  now  the  enemy  can  take  1,000  or  2,000  of 
us  just  any  morning  they  may  feel  so  disposed,  and  their  not 
doing  it  lowers  them  wonderfully  in  my  opinion.  There  are  about 
6,000  of  us  stationed  at  nine  points  along  75  miles  of  railroad, 
and  there  is  no  point  that  4,000  men  could  not  reach  and  attack, 
and  take  before  assistance  could  be  afforded.  But  the  Rebels 
don't  show  any  more  dash  or  spirit  than  we  do,  so  we  all  rest 


I2O  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

perfectly  easy  in  our  weakness,  confiding  in  their  lack  of  vim, 
which  we  gauge  by  our  own.  A  line  drawn  through  Fulton, 
Miss.,  Warrenton,  Ala.  and  thence  to  Rome,  Ga.  (at  which 
last  place  we  think  the  enemy  are  concentrating)  will  give  you 
the  route  over  which  the  enemy  are  now  moving  in  considera- 
ble bodies,  while  whole  brigades  of  their  numerous  cavalry 
pass  nearer  us,  through  Newburg,  Moulton  and  Somerville, 
Ala.  'Twould  be  so  easy  for  them  to  detach  a  division  and 
send  it  up  to  this  line  of  road.  Buell,  with  a  very  respectable 
force,  is  near  Stephenson  in  northeastern  Alabama  moving  so 
slowly  that  no  one  can  tell  in  which  direction.  I  wish  they'd 
give  Grant  the  full  control  of  the  strings.  He  would  be  sure 
to  have  somebody  whipped,  and  I'd  rather  'twould  be  us  than 
live  much  longer  in  this  inactivity.  People  are  most  outra- 
geously secesh  here,  generally,  although  there  are  said  to  be 
some  settlements  very  Union.  I  saw  two  men  yesterday  who 
were  raising  the  ist  Union  Alabama  Regiment.  They  have 
two  full  companies  they  say,  but  I'll  never  believe  it  until  I 
see  the  men  in  blue  jackets.  This  is  the  most  beautiful  vaHey 
that  I  ever  saw.  It  lies  between  the  Tennessee  river  and  a 
spur  of  the  Cumberland  mountains,  which  are  craggy  and 
rough,  and  rocky  enough  to  disgust  an  Illinoisan  after  a  very 
short  ride  over  and  among  them.  Howwever,  they  form  a 
beautiful  background  for  the  valley,  and  are  very  valuable  in 
their  hiding  places  for  the  guerrillas  who  infest  them,  and 
sally  out  every  night  to  maraud,  interfere  with  our  manage- 
ment of  this  railroad  and  to  impress  what  few  able  bodied 
butternuts  there  are  left  in  their  homes.  They  either  cut  the 
wires  or  tear  up  a  little  road  track  for  us  every  night  We  have 
guards  too  strong  for  them  at  every  culvert,  bridge  and  trestle. 
This  country  was  entirely  out  of  gold  and  silver  until  our  cotton 
buyers  came  in  with  the  army,  and  every  man  of  money  had 
his  little  5-cent,  5O-cent,  etc.,  notes  of  his  own  for  change. 
Mitchell's  men  counterfeited  some  of  them  and  passed  thour 
sands  of  dollars  of  their  bogus  on  the  natives.  I  send  you  a 
couple  of  samples  of  what  is  known  here  as  Mitchell  money. 
The  man  I  got  these  of  had  been  fooled  with  over  $20  of  it. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  121 

The  boys  couldn't  get  the  proper  vignette  so,  as  you  will  ob- 
serve, they  used  advertising  cuts  of  cabinet  warehouses  and 
restaurants.  Many  of  our  men  have  passed  Mustang  Liniment 
advertisements  on  the  people,  and  anything  of  the  kind  is 
eagerly  taken  if  you  tell  them  it  is  their  money;  of  course  I 
refer  to  the  poor  country  people,  who,  if  they  can  read,  don't 
show  their  learning.  This  man  with  $20,  like  that  which  I 
send  you,  is  a  sharp,  shrewd-looking  hotel  keeper.  His  house 
is  larger  than  the  "Peoria  House."  General  Morgan,  who  is  in 
command  of  the  infantry  here,  is  a  fine  man,  but  lacks  vim 
or  something  else.  He  isn't  at  all  positive  or  energetic.  The 
weather  still  continues  delightful.  I  have'nt  used  any  linen 
clothing  yet,  although  I  believe  there  is  some  in  my  trunk. 
We  ride  down  to  the  Tennessee  river  every  night  and  bathe, 
and  'tis  so  delightful.  I  don't  believe  anybody  ever  had  a  nicer 
place  than  I  have,  or  less  reason  to  be  dissatisfied.  Well,  I 
do  enjoy  it ;  but  don't  think  I'd  worry  one  minute  if  sent  back 
to  my  regiment  or  further  back  to  my  old  place  in  the  8th. 
I  believe  I  have  the  happy  faculty  of  accommodating  myself 
to  cirumstances,  and  of  grumbling  at  and  enjoying  every- 
thing as  it  comes.  I  am  still  desperately  "out"  with  these 
secesh,  but  borrow  books  from  them  to  while  away  my  spare 
time.  These  people,  safe  in  the  knowledge  of  our  conciliatory 
principles,  talk  their  seceshism  as  boldly  as  they  do  in  Rich- 
mond. Many  of  our  officers  have  given  up  all  hope  of  our 
conquering  them  and  really  wish  for  peace.  For  myself,  I 
know  its  a  huge  thing  we  have  on  our  hands,  but  I  believe  I'd 
rather  see  the  whole  country  red  with  blood,  and  ruined  to- 
gether than  have  this  7,000,000  of  invalids  (these  Southerners 
are  nothing  else  as  a  people)  conquer,  or  successfully  resist 
the  power  of  the  North.  I  hate  them  now,  as  they  hate  us. 
I  have  no  idea  that  we'll  ever  be  one  nation,  even  if  we  con- 
quer their  armies.  The  feeling  is  too  deep  on  both  sides,  for 
anything  but  extermination  of  one  or  the  other  of  the  two 
parties  to  cure,  and  of  the  two,  think  the  world  and  civiliza- 
tion will  lose  the  least  by  losing  the  South  and  slavery. 


122  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  August  7,  1862. 

The  enemy  is  reported  nearer  us  than  usual  to-night,  and  in 
considerable  force.  Have  no  idea  they  intend  fighting  us 
here  though.  This  has  been  the  hottest  day  of  the  summer, 
and  I've  been  in  the  sun  all  day  with  thick  woolen  clothes  on, 
wool  shirts,  too.  I  started  for  Decatur  about  7  this  morning 
and  got  back  at  5  p.  m.  All  platform  cars,  no  possible  chance 
for  shade.  I  rode  on  the  cowcather  going  out,  and  on  the 
tender,  which  was  ahead,  coming  back.  We  got  within  ten 
miles  of  Decatur  when  we  came  to  two  bridges  burned  last 
night,  and  had  to  come  back.  There  is  not  a  bridge  or  cul- 
vert on  this  road  as  far  as  our  brigade  guards  it,  that  has  not 
been  burned,  at  least  once,  and  many  of  the  cattle  guards  even 
have  been  burned.  They  don't  fire  on  the  trains  though  in  this 
country,  which  is  some  little  consolation  to  the  traveler.  Since 
we  have  been  guarding  the  road,  some  two  weeks,  they  have 
burned  in  our  district  four  bridges,  one  water  tank,  and  two 
station  houses,  and  torn  up  rails  several  times.  All  this  work 
is  done  in  the  night.  The  tank  and  stations  were  of  no  use  to 
us  and  the  bridges  we  can  build  about  as  fast  as  they  can  burn 
them,  tearing  down  secesh  houses  to  find  the  timbers  ready 
hewn.  There  are  some  grand  plantations  along  the  line  I 
have  traveled  to-day.  Thousands  of  acres  in  some  of  them 
with  from  50  to  250  hands,  each.  The  negroes  are  under  no 
restraint  whatever,  now.  Don't  half  work,  their  masters  say, 
About  40  negro  women  who  were  clearing  a  piece  of  wood- 
land dropped  their  axes  and  picks  and  came  out  to  the  road  as 
the  train  passed.  They  were  by  odds  the  most  antic  and  amus- 
ing lot  of  slaves  I  have  yet  seen.  So  clumsily  ludicrous,  with 
their  close-curled  wool,  great  white  and  black  eyes,  and  heavy- 
ended  motions.  Some  wore  sun  bonnets,  some  men's  old  hats, 
but  most  were  bareheaded.  The  negro  women  all  wear 
handkerchiefs  (I  think  they  are),  turban  fashion,  while  in- 
doors, and  sun  bonnets,  or  go  bareheaded,  when  out.  They 
seem  to  be  all  dressed  alike,  in  very  ragged,  shabby,  thick,  cot- 
ton stuff,  which  is  either  white  or  yellow.  I  have  never  seen 
one  of  these  dresses  clean  enough  to  tell  which.  I  have  seen 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  123 

but  two  negroes  yet  that  have  marks  of  severe  punishment. 
They  were  man  and  wife,  and  belong  to  a  planter  living  12 
miles  from  here.  The  man  I  think  is  made  a  cripple  for  life 
from  blows  by  a  club  on  his  ankles  and  knees,  the  woman  is 
badly  cut  on  the  arms  and  shoulders,  as  with  a  horsewhip, 
but  she's  all  right  yet.  How  a  man  can  be  fool  enough  to  so 
abuse  such  valuable  property  as  this  is  more  than  I  can  under- 
stand. You  have  no  idea  to  what  an  extent  the  habit  of  dip- 
ping is  carried  here.  I  have,  while  talking  to  women  who  really 
had  in  every  way  the  appearance  of  being  ladies,  seen  them  spit 
tobacco  juice,  and  chew  their  dipping  sticks,  perfectly  at  ease. 
I  don't  think  it  common  to  do  it  so  openly,  but  I  have  seen 
two  ladies,  and  any  number  of  common  women,  engaged  in 
the  delightful  pastime.  Colonel  Kellogg  seems  to  think  that 
I  will  be  mustered  out  in  a  short  time.  I'll  promise  you  one 
thing,  that  if  I  am,  I'll  not  enlist  again  until  the  policy  of  this 
war  changes,  and  in  actions  as  well  as  words,  too.  J.  Pope  is 
disgusting  me  with  him  very  rapidly.  John  is  a  horrid  blower 
of  his  own  horn.  If  he  don't  astonish  this  country,  after  all 
of  his  blowing,  the  country  will  astonish  him  to  his  entire 
dissatisfaction  before  he's  many  months  older.  Oh!  if  Grant 
will  only  go  to  work  and  get  somebody  whipped,  or  if  he'd 
retreat,  that  would  be  better  than  doing  nothing,  though  not 
as  good  as  advancing. 

Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  August  8,  1862. 

My  pet  negro  got  so  lazy  and  worthless  I  was  com- 
pelled to  ship  him.  I'll  take  back,  if  you  please,  everything 
good  that  I  ever  said  of  free  negroes.  That  Beauregard 
nigger  was  such  a  thief  that  we  had  to  also  set  him  adrift. 
He  stole  our  canned  fruit,  jellies  and  oysters  and  sold  some 
of  them  and  gave  parties  at  the  cabins  in  the  vicinity. 
This  was  barely  endurable  but  he  was  a  splendid,  smart 
fellow  and  the  colonel  would  have  kept  him,  but  he  got  to 
stealing  the  colonel's  liquor.  That  of  course,  was  unpar- 
donable, when  the  scarcity  of  the  article  was  considered. 
In  my  last  I  spoke  of  a  ride  on  the  railroad  and  having  to 


J24  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

turn  back  on  account  of  bridges  being  burned  There  were, 
maybe,  150  sick  soldiers  on  board,  and  they  concluded  to 
march  to  Decatur,  only  10  miles.  They  were  attacked 
just  after  we  started  back,  five  of  them  killed  and  about 
IOQ  taken  prisoners.  There  was  a  woman  along  and  she 
was  wounded.  There  were  three  little  fights  yesterday 
between  here  and  25  miles  east.  In  all,  four  killed  and  13 
wounded.  The  fight  first  spoken  of  was  day  before  yester- 
day. Orders  have  been  given  us  to  put  every  woman  and 
child  (imprison  the  men)  across  the  line  that  speaks  or 
acts  secesh,  and  to  burn  their  property,  and  to  destroy  all 
their  crops,  cut  down  corn  growing,  and  burn  all  the  cribs. 
That  is  something  like  war.  'Tis  devilish  hard  for  one  like 
me  to  assist  in  such  work,  but  believe  it  is  necessary  to 
our  course.  Having  been  very  busy  preparing  reports  and 
writing  letters  all  day,  feel  deuced  little  like  writing  you. 
People  here  treat  us  the  very  best  kind,  although  they  are 
as  strong  Rebels  as  live.  Bring  us  peaches  and  vegetables 
every  day.  I  can't  hardly  think  the  generals  will  carry 
out  the  orders  as  above,  for  it  will  have  a  very  demoraliz- 
ing effect  upon  the  men.  I'd  hate  like  the  deuce  to  burn 
the  houses  of  some  secesh  I  know  here,  but  at  the  same 
time  don't  doubt  the  justice  of  the  thing.  One  of  them  has 
lent  us  his  own  cook,  or  rather  his  wife  did ;  and  they  don't 
talk  their  secessionism  to  you  unless  you  ask  them  to. 
We  are  getting  a  good  many  recruits  from  this  country. 
All  poor  people,  in  fact  that  is  the  only  kind  that  pretend 
to  any  Unionism  here.  There  are  now  three  full  companies 
of  Alabamians  (Union)  at  Huntsville,  and  many  more 
coming  in.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  court  that  this  new  law, 
a  copy  of  which  you  sent  me,  will  boost  me  out  of  the 
service.  I  will  make  no  objection,  although  would  rather 
stay  in  if  I  thought  the  war  would  last  30  or  40  years.  Don't 
see  how  the  boys  can  stay  at  home  under  the  pressure.  A 
young  man  here,  and  a  splendid  fellow,  if  he  is  a  Rebel, 
showed  me  four  letters  from  different  young  ladies  urg-ing 
him,  by  ridicule  and  appeals  to  his  pride  to  go  into  the 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  1 25 

army.  He  was  in  for  a  short  time,  and  was  stationed  at 
Fort  Morgan.  Business  keeps  him  out  now — crops,  ete. 
I  think  will  arrange  things  so  that  he  can  leave,  if  we  carry 
out  orders.  'Twould  be  quite  a  change  for  me  to  be  out 
of  the  army  now.  I  don'  know  how  I  would  relish  it  while 
the  war  continues,  although  am  sure  could  stand  it  if  peace 
times  would  come  again. 

Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  August  14,  1862. 

Things  are  progressing  here  swimmingly.  Seldom  have 
more  than  two  bridges  burned  in  the  same  night,  or  lose 
more  than  five  or  six  men  in  one  day.  Scared  a  little  though, 
now.  The  7th  went  down  yesterday  through  Moulton, 
where  they  were  encamped  but  a  few  days  since,  and 
gained  us  the  information  that  they  had  evacuated  that 
post.  People  here  are  considerably  scared  about  the  free 
and  easy  way  we  are  gobbling  up  their  little  all.  We  are 
raking  in  about  100  bales  of  cotton  per  day  and  could  get 
more  if  we  had  the  transportation.  It  makes  the  chivalry 
howl,  which  is  glorious  music  in  our  ears,  and  the  idea  of 
considering  these  confederacies  something  else  than  erring 
brothers  is  very  refreshing.  But  I  can't  talk  the  thing  over 
with  them  with  any  pleasure,  for  they  all  pretend  so  much 
candor  and  honesty  in  their  intentions,  and  declare  so 
cheerfully,  and  (the  women)  prettily,  that  they  will  do 
nothing  opposed  to  our  interest,  and  express  so  much  hor- 
ror and  detestation  of  guerrillas  and  marauders  of  all 
kinds,  that  one  can't  wish  to  do  them  any  harm  or  take 
and  destroy  their  property.  But  the  murders  of  Bob  Mc- 
Cook,  a  dozen  of  men  in  this  command,  and  hundreds  in 
the  army,  all  tend  to  disipate  such  soft  sentiments,  for  we 
are  satisfied  that  citizens  do  ten-elevenths  of  such  work; 
and  nothing  less  than  the  removal  of  every  citizen  beyond 
our  lines,  or  to  north  of  the  Ohio  river,  will  satisfy  us.  We 
are  all  rejoicing  that  "Abe"  refuses  to  accept  the  negroes 
as  soldiers.  Aside  from  the  immense  disaffection  it  would 
create  in  our  army,  the  South  would  arm  and  put  in  the 
field  three  negroes  to  our  one.  Am  satisfied  she  could  do 


126  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

it.  The  Tribune  couldn't  publish  those  articles  in  the  army 
and  keep  a  whole  press  one  day.  Hundreds  of  the  officers 
who  are  emancipationists,  as  I  am,  if  the  brutes  could  be 
shipped  out  of  the  country  would  resign  if  the  Tribune's 
policy  were  adopted.  Within  an  hour  some  rebellious 
cusses  have  set  fire  to  a  pile  of  some  200  bales  of  cotton, 
and  the  thick  white  smoke  is  booming  up  above  the  trees 
in  plain  sight  from  where  I  sit.  I  think  'tis  on  the  Russell- 
ville  road,  and  about  eight  or  nine  miles  out.  Our  cavalry 
were  through  there  yesterday  and  this  morning.  How  glo- 
riously the  people  are  waking  up  again  in  the  North. 
Should  think  from  the  papers  that  the  excitement  must 
be  higher  than  ever.  A  man  that  don't  know  when  he  is 
well  off,  or  enough  to  keep  a  good  thing  when  he  has  his 
fingers  on  it,  deserves  what?  "Nothing!"  I  believe  you  are 
right;  yet  such  is  my  miserable  condition.  Not  one  officer 
in  a  thousand  in  the  army  has  as  pleasant  a  place  as  your 
brother,  and  yet  here  I  am  ready  to  go  at  the  first  chance, 
and  into  an  uncertainty,  too.  Colonel  Mizner  has  assured 
me  that  I  suit  him,  and  that  if  he  is  made  brigadier  he  will 
promote  me.  Where  I  am  going  there  is  no  chance  for 
promotion  unless  Brigadier  General  Oglesby  is  appointed 
major  general.  Think  I  will  have  a  better  chance  to  work 
with  Governor  Yates,  too,  and  then  probably  to  not  more 
than  a  captaincy.  But  I  have  decided  to  go,  though  I  am 
anything  but  anxious  about  the  matter.  Any  of  the  three 
places  are  good  enough.  I  see  by  the  papers  that  a  scouting 
party  from  Cape  Gjrardeau  went  through  to  Madison,  Ark. 
to  Helena,  or  Memphis  rather.  I  wish  I  were  over  there. 
What  delightful  breezes  we  have  here.  Believe  me,  it's  all 
gumption  about  this  being  a  hot  climate.  These  weak 
kneed,  billious-looking  citizens,  (so  because  they  are  too 
lazy  to  exercise  their  bones)  puff  and  pant  with  their  linen 
clothes,  so  thin  you  can  see  their  dirty  skins,  almost,  and 
we  all  wear  our  thick  winter  clothes,  and  at  that  feel  the 
heat  less  than  we  ever  did  North.  Such  loves  of  nights, 
so  everything  that's  nice ;  and  invariably  so  cool  that  blan- 
kets are  necessary  after  midnight. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  I2/ 

Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  August  19,  1862. 

Tis  the  old,  old,  story,  burning  railroad  bridges,  skirmish- 
ing between  our  scouts  and  theirs,  etc.  They  opened  on  a  new 
program  by  firing  into  a  train,  two  days  since,  wounding  five 
men  only,  though  they  put  200  shots  into  the  engine  and  cars. 
They  are  burning  cotton  in  very  good  style.  Night  before 
last  eight  fires  were  visible  from  our  headquarters,  and  last 
night  four.  They  destroyed  about  $300,000  in  the  two  nights. 
They're  getting  scared  about  their  negroes,  and  are  carrying 
them  off  to  the  mountains  as  fast  as  possible.  The  blacks 
are  scrambling  in  this  direction  to  a  very  lively  tune.  Over 
100  came  in  on  one  road  within  the  last  24  hours.  About  50 
can  be  used  in  a  regiment  to  advantage,  but  I  am  thoroughly 
opposed  to  receiving  any  more  than  we  have  work  for  within 
our  lines.  You  have  no  idea  what  a  miserable,  horrible-look- 
ing, degraded  set  of  brutes  these  plantation  hands  are.  Con- 
tempt and  disgust  only  half  express  one's  feelings  toward  any 
man  that  will  prate  about  the  civilizing  and  christianizing  in- 
fluence of  slavery.  The  most  savage,  copper  savage,  cannot 
be  below  these  field  hands  in  any  brute  quality.  Let  them  keep 
their  negroes  though,  for  we  surely  don't  want  our  Northern 
States  degraded  by  them,  and  they  can't  do  the  Southerners 
any  good  after  we  get  them  driven  a  few  degrees  further 
down.  These  nigs  that  come  in  now,  say  that  their  masters 
were  going  to  put  them  in  the  Southern  Army  as  soldiers. 
I'm  sure  the  Southerners  are  too  smart  for  that,  for  a  million 
of  them  aren't  worth  100  whites.  General  Paine  is  gobbling 
up  these  secesh  here  and  starting  them  North  kiting.  How 
they  are  shaking  in  their  boots.  Paine  is  going  to  clean  out 
the  country  and  make  it  Union  if  there  is  nothing  but  desert 
left.  There  are  a  number  of  very  fine  people  here,  such  men 
as  Jacob  H.  Bass,  highly  honorable,  conscientious,  etc.,  but 
strong  believers  in  State  sovereignty,  and  because  their  State 
has  seceded,  they  are  secessionists,  and  for  no  other  reason. 
Paine  is  going  to  make  them  walk  the  plank  with  the  rest.  It 
looks  a  little  hard  to  me,  as  they  are  willing  to  be  paroled, 
but  I'll  never  say  stop  when  anybody  is  pounding  the  secesh. 


128  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Tusciiiiibia,  Ala.,  August  28,  1862. 

The  order  has  been  issued  requiring  battalion  adjutants  to 
be  mustered  out  of  the  service,  but  Colonel  Mizner  insists  on 
our  remaining,  and  being  either  assigned  to  companies  or 
made  regimental  adjutant  commander  and  quartermaster, 
which  offices  this  new  law  provides.  General  Oglesby  wants 
me  very  much.  I  was  down  to  Corinth  a  few  days  since  and 
saw  him.  Told  him  about  this  order  mustering  me  out,  and 
he  offered  to  go  with  me  to  General  Grant  and  ask  for  an  or- 
der excepting  me  from  muster.  I  knew  that  the  wording  of 
my  commission  wouldn't  allow  such  an  irregularity  and  had 
to  decline.  If  I  stay  with  the  regiment  now,  I  will  not  be 
able  to  get  on  Oglesby's  staff,  as  I  wish,  for  in  either  of  the 
three  places  which  I  can  get,  I  could  not  be  detached.  But 
General  Oglesby  said  that  he  would  give  me  plenty  of  time  to 
go  home  and  hunt  a  lieutenancy  in  the  company,  and  then  he 
would  have  me  assigned  to  him.  I  could  not  get  home  in  less 
than  eight  days,  and  by  that  time  I  think  would  have  a  diffi- 
culty in  getting  a  position,  for  regiments  will  be  so  near  or- 
ganized that  new  comers  will  stand  a  poor  chance.  Have 
almost  made  up  my  mind  to  go  home  and  run  my  chances. 
I  know  I  am  worth  more  than  a  lieutenancy,  and  that  in  these 
regiment  staff  places  there  is  no  chance  for  promotion.  Would 
almost  as  lief  commence  again  in  the  ranks.  Am  sure  I 
would  be  a  captain  as  quickly. 

[He  came  home  and  raised  a  company  in  the  iO3d  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  was  elected  captain. — Ed.] 

Camp  Peoria,  October  3,  1862. 

I  suppose  this  is  the  commencement  of  another  series  of  let- 
ters from  your  army  correspondent.  You  can't  imagine  how 
kind  of  old-fashioned  good  it  seems  to  be  in  camp  again.  You 
know,  of  course,  that  my  lucky  star  still  rules,  and  that  I  have 
been  elected  captain.  I  think  I  have  an  excellent  company, 
though  I  have  but  few  men  that  I  ever  knew  before.  Charley 
Mattison  is  my  first  lieutenant,  and  John  Dorrance,  my  sec- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  I2Q 

and.  The  first  lieutenant  is  able,  willing  and  industrious.  Dor- 
ranee  will  make  a  great  deal  better  officer  than  you  imagine. 
Think  I  will  manage  to  visit  you  before  we  march,  but  can't 
promise.  I  am  confined  very  closely,  and  have  a  great  deal 
of  work  to  do.  But  thank  fortune,  I  partly  understand  it. 

Camp  at  Lagrange,  West  Tennessee,  November  7,  1862. 
To  say  that  we  have  been  crowded,  jammed,  put  through, 
hustled,  skited,  etc.,  don't  half  express  the  divil-of-a-hurry 
headquarters  has  shown  and  is  showing  us.  We  left  Peoria 
one  week  ago  last  night,  crossed  the  bridge  at  precisely  6 
o'clock  p.  m.  Since  that  we  have  traveled  one  day  and  one 
night  on  the  cars,  a  day  resting,  beside  stacked  arms  waiting 
orders,  the  first  quarter  of  a  night  pitching  tents,  then  received 
orders  to  march  with  five  days'  rations  at  daylight,  and  the 
rest  of  the  night  spent  in  preparation  therefor,  then  two  days' 
marching  through  the  aw  fullest  dust  you  ever  saw,  so  thick 
we  almost  had  to  kick  it  out  of  the  way  to  get  our  foot  to  the 
ground,  then  a  day  of  rest  and  fat  living  off  secesh  pork,  etc., 
and  the  seventh  day  a  march  of  20  miles  by  our  whole  brigade, 
after  a  little  party  of  Rebel  cavalry  that  couldn't  more  than  eat 
a  hog  a  day.  Pretty  good  work  for  a  green  regiment,  wasn't 
it?  It  seems  real  natural  to  be  down  in  Secessia,  the  country 
where  a  3OO-pound  porker  don't  cost  any  more  than  a  chicken 
that  costs  nothing.  But  some  things  we  have  to  buy  for  our 
mess,  and  to  show  you  what  they  cost,  I  will  mention  the 
items  of  flour  and  salt.  The  former  is  worth  50  cents  per 
pound,  and  the  latter  $i  a  pound.  We  wouldn't  have  to  buy 
them  of  citizens,  but  scarcity  of  transportation  obliged  our 
A.  C.  S.  to  leave  everything  but  traveling  rations,  viz. ;  Bacon, 
sugar,  coffee  and  crackers.  There  is  a  man  making  boots  in 
town  at  $45  a  pair,  and  he  can't  get  leather  to  fill  his  orders. 
Fine  country.  Between  here  and  Bolivar,  some  30  miles,  I 
think  there  is  not  a  house  left  or  rail  left  unburned,  and  'twas 
all  done  on  our  trip  down.  The  fires  were  all  lit  by  troops 
that  marched  ahead  of  us,  and  although  the  smoke  and  heat 
were  disagreeable  enough,  yet  I  think  the  iO3d  generally  ap- 


I3O  •       ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

proved  of  the  proceedings.  Yet  I  was  glad  enough  when  the 
colonel,  by  the  general's  orders,  called  us  to  answer  the  ques- 
tion, "Do  you  know  that  any  of  your  men  burned  rails,  houses, 
or  destroyed  any  property  on  the  march  from  Bolivar?"  that 
the  iO3d  had  not  participated.  Major  General  McPherson, 
commanding  this  corps,  disapproves  of  such  conduct  and  will 
severely  punish  offenders  if  caught,  which  latter  item  is  not 
at  all  probable.  'Tis  generally  understood  that  the  Union  Ten- 
nessee Cavalry  did  the  work.  The  7th  Illinois  is  here  with  us 
and  all  are  well  that  you  know. 

We  have  good  tents  and  are  otherwise  better  prepared  for 
soldiering  than  I  ever  was  before. 

We  have  between  30,000  and  40,000,  I  suppose,  between  here 
and  a  point  eight  miles  east.  Price  is  supposed  to  be  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Holly  Springs,  30  miles  southwest,  with 
40,000  to  60,000.  They  say  we  are  waiting  for  the  Memphis 
troops  to  join  us  before  we  go  down  and  scoop  him.  We 
have  the  half  of  the  old  army  of  the  Mississippi  here,  and  part 
of  the  army  of  West  Tennessee,  nearly  all  experienced  troops. 

Camp  near  the  Tallahatchie,  seven  miles  South  of 
Holly  Springs,  Miss., 

December  3,  1862. 

We  received  marching  orders  at  Lagrange,  Tenn.,  at  9 
o'clock  p.  m.  on  the  27th,  and  moved  at  6  a.  m.  on  the  28th, 
on  the  Holly  Springs  road.  We  marched  some  five  miles  and 
then  waited  four  or  five  hours  for  the  divisions  of  Ross  and 
McArthur  from  Grand  Junction,  and  Quinby  and  Moscow  to 
file  into  the  road  ahead  of  us.  About  4  p.  m.  we  were  again  set 
in  motion,  and  at  7  p.  m.  (moonlight)  we  turned  into  the 
woods,  about  10  miles  from  Lagrange,  and  bivouacked  for 
the  night.  Fell  in  at  7  a.  m.,  29th,  marched  nine  miles  by 
2:30  p.  m.  to  Coldwater,  a  very  nice  little  stream,  the  water 
in  which  is  as  cold  in  July  as  in  December.  Here  we  rested 
until  6:30  p.  m.  and  then  marched  six  miles  by  moonlight  to 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  13! 

Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  where  we  camped  for  the  night.  At 
8  a.  m.,  3Oth,  moved  out  and  arrived  at  the  present  camp  about 
2  p.  m.  The  last  five  miles  we  were  cheered  by  the  enlivening 
music  of  artillery  firing  ahead,  pretty  lively  at  times  and  then 
subsiding  into  an  ocasional  bellow,  bringing  the  good  old 
Madrid  and  Corinth  times  very  distinctly  to  my  mind.  It's 
astonishing  what  an  amount  of  ignorance  I  am  guilty  of  in  re- 
gard to  the  situation  of  affairs  here,  but  I  really  haven't  in- 
quired of  or  listened  to  any  of  the  powers  that  be  on  the  sub- 
ject. I've  had  my  mind  set  on  a  fight  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  if  we  get  that  I  don't  care  about  details,  if  not  I'll  find 
out  what  I  can,  though  'tis  an  awful  sight  of  trouble  to  sift 
sense  and  matter  to  be  credited  out  of  camp  rumors,  and  that 
is  about  the  only  source  a  line  officer  has  for  getting  informa- 
tion. Believe  I'll  give  you  a  little  list  of  rumors  condensed, 
(i)  Enemy  50,000  strong  fortified  on  this  side  of  Tallahat- 
chie.  (2)  Rebels  driven  across  the  river,  only  rifle  pits  on  this 
side.  (3)  Sherman  has  turned  their  right  flank  and  we've  got 
them  sure.  (4)  Enemy  only  30,000  strong  in  tremendous  for- 
tifications opposite  side  of  river ;  bridge  burned,  will  be  rebuilt 
by  midnight,  when  we'll  pitch  into  them,  etc.  (5)  Pemberton 
wants  to  fight;  Price  opposes  the  idea.  (6)  Fortifications 
evacuated  night  of  ist  inst.,  and  Sherman  pushing  the  enemy's 
right  as  they  retreat  (To  back  this  No.  6  rumor,  heavy  col- 
umns were  pushing  past  us  all  day  yesterday  in  a  driving  rain). 
(7)  Steel  and  Curtis  have  pushed  across  from  Helena  or 
Napoleon  and  taken  possession  of  Grenada,  cutting  off  the 
Rebel  line  of  retreat;  Curtis'  force  25,000.  (8)  Price  has 
cut  through  Curtis'  force  and  escaped.  (9)  Price  attacked 
Curtis,  was  repulsed  and  is  now  coming  back  this  way,  etc. 
There  has  been  cannonading  the  last  three  days  some  four  or 
six  miles  ahead,  but  none  to-day.  Squads  of  prisoners  pass 
us  going  to  the  rear  every  day.  The  country  from  Lagrange 
to  this  place  is  very  good,  clearings  much  more  extensive  and 
more  evidences  of  wealth  than  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  road. 
We  were  on  picket  the  ist  inst.  some  two  miles  in  advance  of 


132  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

our  camp  and  had  a  grand  time.  This  iO3d  out  jayhawks  old 
Jennison  himself.  The  regiment  went  on  picket  the  last  time 
with  one  day's  rations,  and  I  swear  I  believe  they  came  in 
with  six  days'.  My  company  "found"  150  pounds  of 
flour,  a  hog,  a  beef,  two  and  one-half  bushels  of  sweet  potatoes, 
chickens,  ducks,  milk,  honey  and  apples.  The  night  we  stopped 
at  Holly  Springs,  Company  G  must  have  confiscated  $300 
(the  way  these  people  figure)  worth  of  eatables,  among  which 
were  one  barrel  of  molasses,  300  pounds  of  sugar,  one  barrel 
of  flour,  four  hogs,  etc.  But  I  don't  allow  them  to  take  any- 
thing but  eatables.  I  think  it  right,  and  can  find  no  argu- 
ments for  any  other  side  of  the  question.  Holly  Springs  is  a 
beautiful  little  town,  but  not  so  rich,  I  think,  as  Jackson, 
Tenn.,  which  beats  everything  for  its  size,  I  ever  saw.  Our 
army,  trains  and  all,  stretched  out  in  marching  shape,  is,  I 
think,  30  miles  long.  Believe  without  Sherman  it  numbers 
from  40,000  to  45,000.  Anyway  we  have  enough  to  skin  Mis- 
sissippi. Major  General  McPherson  commands  our  right  wing 
of  two  divisions,  Logan's  and  McKean's.  Hamilton  has  the 
left  wing  of  three  divisions,  McArthur,  Ross  and  Quinby. 
Don't  know  what  Sherman  has,  but  he  holds  a  good  hand  and 
has  some  trumps  that  we  know  of,  particularly  Hurlbut  and 
Lanman.  I  never  saw  men  in  as  good  spirits  and  so  confi- 
dent as  this  army  now  appears.  We  are  splendidly  equipped 
and  want  nothing.  The  only  drawback  is  the  men's  having 
to  carry  their  knapsacks,  but  if  the  fine  weather  will  only 
continue  we'll  stand  that.  We  don't  use  any  tents  at  night 
when  marching,  and  'tis  no  hardship  to  lie  out  at  night  yet. 
The  boys  strip  to  their  underclothing,  with  only  two  blankets, 
and  never  grumble.  I  can't  see  why  people  will  stay  at  home 
when  they  can  get  to  soldiering.  I  think  a  year  of  it  is  worth 
getting  shot  for  to  any  man.  I  believe  I  used  to  get  a  little 
homesick  or  girl  sick,  but  my  brief  furloughs  have  taught  me 
the  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit  folks  are  liable  to  in  the 
States,  and  I  think  I'll  hanker  thereafter  no  more.  If  I  can 
get  into  the  regular  army,  I'll  do  it  sure. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  133 

Provost  Marshal's  Office,  4th  Division,  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  near  Tallahatchie,  Miss., 

December  8,  1862. 

Still  we  tarry  by  the  wayside  anxiously  awaiting  the  order 
to  move  forward.  We  did  provide  three  days'  rations  once, 
but  devoured  them  without  leaving  camp.  Two  divisions,  Mc- 
Kean's  and  Ross',  have  left  here,  while  the  remainder  of  the 
army  has  pushed  onward.  We  hear  of  the  advance  skirmishing 
50  miles  in  front  of  us.  Think  the  main  force  is  at  Oxford, 
about  25  miles  from  here.  We're  probably  waiting  for  the 
railroad  to  be  repaired  so  that  supplies  can  be  furnished  us 
when  we  move.  The  retreating  Rebels  destroyed  every  cul- 
vert and  bridge  as  they  fell  back,  and  it  of  course  takes  time 
to  rebuild  so  many.  The  road  is  not  yet  in  running  order  to 
Holly  Springs,  and  everything  has  to  be  wagoned  to  the  army, 
which  but  a  very  little  rain  in  this  country  makes  impossible. 
We  suffered  three  days  of  cold,  drizzling  rain  last  week  which 
most  effectually  blockaded  the  roads,  but  the  last  three  days 
have  been  beautifully  clear,  etc.,  and  travel  is  again  resumed. 
We  will  change  camp  to-morrow  to  improve  our  water  facili- 
ties, probably  moving  four  or  five  miles  back  toward  Holly 
Springs.  One  mile  northward  is  harder  to  travel  than  10  in 
the  opposite  direction.  My  whole  company  is  detached  from 
the  regiment  as  provost  guard.  It  relieves  us  from  picket  duty, 
fatigue,  etc.,  gives  us  officers'  quarters  in  a  house  (there  are 
a  sofa,  two  rocking  chairs,  soft-bottomed  chairs,  a  library, 
feather  bed,  etc.,  in  the  room  I  am  now  writing  in  and  occupy) . 
I've  soldiered  long  enough  to  never  refuse  these  little  good 
things  Providence  throws  in  my  way.  The  detail  is  perma- 
nent, but  suppose  I  can  get  back  to  my  regiment  when  I  feel 
disposed.  The  7th  Cavalry  had  a  little  skirmish  in  front  a 
day  or  two  since;  Coe,  and  a  number  of  others  were  taken 
prisoners.  Nelson  was  a  prisoner  once,  I  hear,  but  was  re- 
taken by  his  men,  or  the  2d  Illinois  Cavalry.  Rumor  has  it 


134  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

to-day,  that  our  forces  have  possession  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  and 
have  captured  3,000  of  General  Holmes'  Army,  which  was  at- 
tempting to  reinforce  Pemberton.  Don't  think  the  rumor 
worth  doubting,  unless  McClernand  has  got  within  striking 
distance.  Can't  hear  a  word  from  his  expedition.  Wonder 
what  the  deuce  Banks  is  going  to  try  to  do.  Hope  we  won't 
fool  away  his  time  and  the  lives  of  his  men  in  Texas.  We've 
had  enough  of  those  coast  expeditions.  The  one  under  Butler 
was  the  only  one  that  paid  expenses.  Burnside  is  beaten  badly. 
Will  bet  that  another  change  of  base  will  be  necessary  before 
Richmond  is  ours.  We're  out  of  all  patience  with  that  army. 
We  are  slow  enough  in  all  reason,  but  they  certainly  beat  us 
crawling,  wonderfully,  making  slowness  the  gage.  Our  men 
are  using  this  country  awfully  rough.  Such  animals  as  chick- 
ens, fences,  swine,  etc.,  are  entirely  unseeable  and  unfindable 
within  15  miles  of  where  our  camp  has  been  this  last  week. 
This  alone  is  not  so  bad;  but  if  you  wink  at  this  amount  of 
license  in  soldiers,  they  go  farther  and  insult  and  almost  scare 
to  death  women  and  children,  all  citizens  indiscriminately. 
Guess  that  'tis  the  intention  of  the  general  commanding  to 
reform  this  matter.  Says  he  is  going  to  hold  company  officers 
responsible  for  the  conduct  of  their  men  and  punish  officers, 
not  soldiers,  hereafter  for  outrages  committed.  I  send  my  boys 
out  as  patrols,  and  whenever  they  catch  a  man  with  poultry  or 
meat  of  any  kind  they  relieve  him  thereof,  take  him  under 
guard  to  his  regimental  commander,  and  Company  G  eats  up 
the  chickens  or  pork,  or  potatoes,  of  course;  so  you  see 
this  provost  duty  is  not  so  bad  as  it  might  be  on  us.  I  have 
also  in  my  charge  35  Rebel  prisoners,  Louisianians  and  North 
Carolinians.  Price  had  three  Kentucky  regiments,  but  they 
have  nearly  all  deserted  him,  hundreds  have  taken  the  oath  at 
different  points  along  our  line  and  gone  to  their  homes.  I 
have  an  old  negro  here  now  that  I  wish  I  could  send  to  you 
to  cut  the  wood  and  do  your  errands.  He  is  63  years  old,  but 
is  good  for  twenty  years  yet. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  135 

Provost  Marshal's  Office,  Waterford,  Miss., 

December  12,  '62. 

From  captain  of  the  provost  guard,  I  have  been  changed 
to  provost  marshal.  I  had  charge  of  two  companies,  doing 
the  guard  duty  for  the  provost  of  our  division  until  yester- 
day; the  division  was  ordered  forward  to  Oxford,  except 
our  regiment,  which  was  left  to  guard  the  railroad  between 
this  point  and  the  Tallahatchie  river.  Headquarters  be- 
ing here,  Colonel  Dickerman  appointed  me  provost  and 
sent  my  company  to  guard  a  bridge  one  and  one-half  miles 
south  of  this  place.  My  business  is  to  attend  to  all  prison- 
ers, deal  with  citizens  (administer  oaths,  take  paroles, 
etc.),  give  all  passes  for  citizens  and  soldiers  leaving,  have 
charge  of  all  soldiers  straggling  from  their  regiments,  issue 
permits  to  sutlers,  etc.,  and  overlook  the  cotton  trade. 
Altogether,  quite  enough  for  any  one  man  to  attend  to. 
The  little  advantage  of  having  a  comfortable  house  to  live 
in,  etc.,  is  worth  something;  but  I  kind  o'  feel  as  if  I  would 
rather  be  with  my  company.  Another  regiment  came  in 
to-night,  I2th  Indiana,  and  we  may  possibly  be  relieved 
to-morrow.  Shall  be  glad  if  we  can  only  get  with  our  di- 
vision again.  General  Lanman  has  again  taken  command 
of  our  division,  and  although  we  know  nothing  against 
McKean,  yet  we  know  so  much  good  of  Lanman,  that 
we're  much  pleased.  Eight  of  our  companies  are  guarding 
bridges,  so  we  only  have  two  here.  Confound  this  rail- 
road guarding;  I'm  down  on  it.  'Tis  more  dangerous  than 
regular  soldiering,  harder  work,  and  no  shadow  of  a  chance 
for  glory.  There's  a  smart  chance  of  fun  in  my  present 
business,  particularly  in  the  citizens  branch  thereof.  It 
would  have  furnished  you  with  amusement  enough  for  a 
month,  could  you  have  heard  an  old  lady  talk  who  visited 
me  to-day.  She  was  a  F.  F.  and  blooded,  Oh,  Lord!  We 
let  all  come  within  the  lines ;  but  before  they  can  pass  out, 
an  oath  or  parole  is  required  of  them.  How  they  squirm ! 
Rebels,  though  they  are,  'tis  shocking  and  enough  to  make 


136  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

one's  blood  boil  to  see  the  manner  in  which  some  of  our 
folks  have  treated  them.  Trunks  have  been  knocked  to 
pieces  with  muskets  when  the  women  stood  by,  offering 
the  keys,  bureau  drawers  drawn  out,  the  contents  turned 
on  the  floor,  and  the  drawer  thrown  through  the  window, 
bed  clothing  and  ladies'  clothing  carried  off  and  all  manner 
of  deviltry  imaginable  perpetrated.  Of  course  the  scoun- 
drels who  do  this  kind  of  work  would  be  severely  punished 
if  caught,  but  the  latter  is  almost  impossible.  Most  of  the 
mischief  is  done  by  the  advance  of  the  army,  though,  God 
knows,  the  infantry  is  bad  enough.  The  d — d  thieves  even 
steal  from  the  negroes  (which  is  lower  business  than  I  ever 
thought  it  possible  for  a  white  man  to  be  guilty  of)  and 
many  of  them  are  learning  to  hate  the  Yankees  as  much 
as  our  "Southern  Brethren"  do.  The  army  is  becoming 
awfully  depraved.  How  the  civilized  home  folks  will  ever 
be  able  to  live  with  them  after  the  war,  is,  I  think,  some- 
thing of  a  question.  If  we  don't  degenerate  into  a  nation 
of  thieves,  'twill  not  be  for  lack  of  the  example  set  by  a  fair 
sized  portion  of  our  army.  Do  you  remember  that  I  used 
to  write  that  a  man  would  no  sooner  lose  his  morality  in 
the  army  than  at  home?  I  now  respectfully  beg  to  recall 
the  remark,  but  I  believe  the  sight  of  such  devilish,  point- 
less wickedness  disgusts  me,  and  that  your  brother's  moral 
principles  are  strengthened  by  contact  with  these  ungodly. 
Instance,  in  my  present  position,  I  know  without  danger  of 
exposure,  I  could  pocket  at  least  $500  within  five  days ;  but 
for  conscience  sake  and  my  self-respect,  I  sit  back  with  my 
purity,  and  tumble  my  keys  and  comb  round  in  my  other- 
wise empty  pockets  and  feel  good.  Well,  it  won't  do  to 
brag  on  such  a  subject,  but  my  confidence  in  the  honesty 
of  man  has  waned  so  much  since  I  entered  the  army  that 
I  can't  help  saying,  there  are  few  that  would  not,  in  my 
position,  make  a  raise.  Can't  hear  anything  from  the  front. 
Know  that  part  of  Sherman's  army  has  returned  to  Mem- 
phis to  join  the  expedition  down  the  Mississippi  and  that 
is  all.  This  town  only  contains  a  dozen  or  20  houses,  but 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  137 

they  are  good  ones.  Great  many  here  profess  to  have  al- 
ways been  Union,  and  many  are  taking  the  oath  willingly. 
Good  joke  on  them  when  the  guerrillas  come  in  after  we 
leave.  Suspect  they  have  most  all  been  Rebels,  so  I  don't 
pity  them  as  much  as  I  do  out-spoken  seceshers.  I  rode  out 
in  the  country  eight  miles  day  before  yesterday,  and  found 
three  convalescent  soldiers  of  Price's  army  at  one  place, 
A  lieutenant  of  the  53d  Illinois  was  with  me,  so  we  brought 
them  into  camp  and  put  them  with  the  other  prisoners. 
We  have  now  nearly  3,000  soldiers  in  the  hospital  at  La- 
grange  and  yet  the  army  is  very  healthy.  Don't  be  much 
surprised  if  you  hear  of  us  being  gobbled  up  by  the  guer- 
rillas, for  these  railroad  guards  are  only  baits  for  them; 
nothing  more. 

Provost  Marshal's  Office,  Waterford,  Miss., 

December  23,   1862. 

Suspect  this  will  be  my  last  from  this  country.  Where  the 
army  is  going  I  know  not,  but  the  divisions  which  have  been 
in  front  are  now  filing  past  us,  faces  northward.  The  move- 
ment commencing  at  the  time  of  the  raid  on  Holly  Springs, 
gives  it  the  appearance  of  a  retrograde  for  that  reason,  but  I 
think  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter,  for  though  I 
have  no  idea  of  the  future  plans  of  the  general  commanding, 
yet  have  known  for  some  time  that  it  was  not  the  intention 
to  pursue  further  than  Grenada  on  this  line,  and  that  point 
has  been  evacuated  by  the  enemy  for  some  days.  The  raid 
into  Holly  Springs  was  capitally  done.  The  Rebels  made  a 
No.  i  haul.  Immense  stores  of  clothing,  commissaries  and 
ordnance  fell  into  their  hands,  all  of  which,  however,  they  were 
obliged  to  destroy,  save  what  they  could  carry  away  on  their 
horses.  About  1,200  or  1,500  officers  and  soldiers  were  pa- 
roled by  them,  some  1,000  horses  carried  off  ,and  I  think  not 
less  than  $1,000,000  of  greenbacks.  One-half  million  worth 
of  cotton  was  burned,  etc. ;  loss  to  Government  cannot  be 


138  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

less  than  three  or  four  millions  of  dollars.  Colonel  Murphy  is 
the  man  who  is  responsible  for  the  whole  thing,  and  I  can 
think  of  no  punishment  equal  to  his  deserts.  'Twas  but  nine 
miles  from  us  and  we  of  course  immediately  prepared  for  a 
visit,  but  were  not  so  honored.  These  successful  raids  of  the 
enemy  almost  make  me  sick.  If  our  men  would  only  be  on 
the  alert  so  that  they  could  make  something  of  a  fight,  I 

wouldn't  care  a  d n.     But  to  lose  a  thousand  prisoners 

without  the  enemy's  having  one  killed  ,makes  me  disgusted 
with  the  army.  I'm  allying  a  little  fun  with  business  as  op- 
portunities offer.  Friday  last  I  got  permission  of  the  colonel 
to  make  a  little  reconnoisance  of  the  country  along  Tippah 
river,  and  on  the  Tallahatchie  between  the  mouth  of  Tippah 
and  the  railroad.  I  stayed  six  miles  from  camp  the  first  night 
and  went  possum  hunting.  Hunted  until  2  o'clock  a.  m.  and 
although  we  treed  a  good  many,  couldn't  get  them.  Examined 
the  country  thoroughly  next  day,  made  a  map  of  it,  found  there 
were  no  guerrillas  near  our  camp  and  then  got  a  shot  gun  and 
hunted.  The  young  fellow  I  was  with  and  myself,  in  an  hour 
killed  seven  squirrels  and  a  coon.  Got  back  to  town  at  dark, 
Saturday  night,  and  found  everybody  terribly  excited  about 
the  Holly  Springs  affair.  They  had  given  me  up  for  a  goner. 
The  regiment  laid  on  their  arms  and  I  laid  on  my  featherbed, 
for  I  knew  devilish  well  there  was  no  danger.  We've  been  on 
the  alert  ever  since  but  the  enemy  has  gone.  To-day  the  guer- 
rillas have  been  seen  on  all  sides  of  us  within  a  few  miles,  but 
Ross'  division  has  just  arrived  so  there  is  no  chance  for  a 
fight. 

Provost  Marshal's  Office,  Waterford,  Miss., 

December  30,  1862. 

Fifteen  days  outside  the  world  and  still  we  live.  No  pa- 
pers of  later  date  than  the  I5th  inst.  have  reached  us,  and  'twill 
be  at  least  five  days'  move  before  we  can  hope  to  see  one.  In 
that  time  there  have  been  some  six  or  eight  fights  in  this  coun- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  139 

try  all  to  our  disadvantage,  and  two  cowardly  surrenders, 
Holly  Springs  and  Trenton.  Pemberton's  cavalry  under  Van 
Dorn,  turned  our  left,  and  striking  at  our  line  of  communica- 
tion, first  surprised  and  captured  Holly  Springs,  burned  every- 
thing belonging  to  our  army  with  the  houses  containing  the 
stores;  then  while  a  portion  of  the  column  retreated  another 
portion  successively  attacked  our  troops  stationed  at  Coldwater 
bridge,  Middleton,  Grand  Junction,  and  outposts  near  Bolivar, 
in  all  of  which  they  were  repulsed.  About  the  same  time  a 
portion  of  Bragg's  forces  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  at  or 
near  Musch  Shoals,  Ala.,  and  marched  along  the  south  side 
of  the  river  toward  Corinth.  General  Dodge  at  Corinth  sent 
out  Colonel  Sweeny,  who  met  and  defeated  the  enemy,  driving 
him  across  the  river.  The  enemy  then  again  crossed  the  river 
near  Savannah,  and  moving  toward  Jackson  were  met  by  Bob 
Ingersoll,  whom,  after  something  of  a  fight,  'tis  said,  they  cap- 
tured with  his  command.  Trenton  was  then  cowardly  sur- 
rendered by  some  250  Tennessee  cavalry.  Attacks  were  made 
on  several  other  posts  garrisoned  by  our  troops,  in  all  of  which 

the  enemy  were  repulsed.    Altogether  there  has  been  a  d 1 

of  a  time.  When  Van  Dorn  had  finished  his  little  bonfire  at 
Holly  Springs,  this  army  was  left  with  about  five  day's  ra- 
tions, which  we  have  to  make  do  15  at  least.  In  order  to  make 
up  the  deficit  in  commissaries,  General  Grant  ordered  that 
everything  eatable  that  could  be  found  in  the  country  be  seized 
for  army  use.  In  the  strip  of  country  from  Holly  Springs 
to  Coffeeville,  for,  say  15  miles  wide,  there  is  not  enough  left 
to  feed  50  chickens  a  week.  Colonel  Dickerman  and  I  visited 
Holly  Springs  yesterday  and  took  a  little  look  at  the  ruins. 
I  suppose  the  damage  to  the  citizens  amounts  to  nearly  as  much 
as  the  Government's  loss.  Most  of  the  best  and  largest  houses 
were  burned.  General  Grant  told  Colonel  Dickerman  that  our 
regiment  would  be  sent  to  Jackson  in  a  few  days  to  guard  that 
place.  Well,  if  we  have  to  go  into  winter  quarters  that 
will  suit  your  brother  very  much.  We  will  be  nearer  home 
and  communication  will  not  be  so  apt  to  be  broken  between  us. 


140  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

January  4,  1863. 

There  I  quit,  for  we  received  orders  to  get  ready  at  once  to 
march  to  Jackson,  Tenn.  The  colonel  ordered  me  to  take 
charge  of  the  train  (wagons)  and  with  my  company  guard 
it  through  by  the  wagon  road,  while  the  other  nine  companies 
went  through  by  railroad.  The  regiment  got  off  that  evening, 
but  I  was  delayed  until  the  3ist,  when  just  as  I  got  my  com- 
pany into  line  to  start  a  couple  of  the  finest  houses  in  town 
took  fire,  and  burned  down.  The  colonel  commanding  the  I5th 
Illinois  Infantry,  which  had  just  arrived,  put  me  under  arrest 
and  stationed  a  guard  around  my  company,  but  after  an  hour's 
detention,  my  strong  protestations  against  arrest  and  my  ar- 
guments in  favor  of  the  honorable  acquital  of  my  men  of  the 
charges,  induced  him  to  allow  us  to  proceed  on  our  way.  By 
Lieutenant  Mattison's  personal  smartness  the  train  was  taken 
from  the  road  in  the  p.  m.,  while  I  was  ahead  selecting  camp- 
ing grounds  for  the  night,  and  I  did  not  get  with  it  for  two 
days,  which  I  traveled  alone.  The  distance  is  about  90  miles. 
The  first  night  I  stayed  at  Holly  Springs  and  slept  in  the  bed 
which  General  Pemberton,  Van  Dorn  and  Lovell  of  the  Rebel 
Army,  and  Hamilton,  of  ours,  in  turn  occupied.  'Twas  in  the 
room  they  occupied  for  headquarters.  Mrs.  Stricklin,  the  lady 
of  the  house,  was  charming.  Her  husband  is  a  major  in  the 
Rebel  Army.  I  ate  my  New  Year's  dinner  at  Dr.  Ellis'.  He 
was  not  at  home,  but  his  lady  treated  me  very  politely,  and  I 
give  her  credit  for  having  the  noblest  face  I  ever  saw  on 
woman.  She  is  a  sister  of  Rebel  General  Hindman.  Stayed 
at  a  private  house  at  Lagrange  that  night  (Mrs.  Cockes)  and 
heard  some  delightful  music  made  by  a  daughter.  Saw  seven 
mounted  Rebels  on  the  2d,  and  felt  uneasy  traveling  alone,  but 
got  through  safe  to  Bolivar.  Here  I  caught  up  with  my  train 
which  I  thought  was  behind.  When  we  started  my  men  were 
on  foot,  when  I  caught  up  with  them  at  Bolivar,  38  of  them 
were  mounted  on  horses  or  mules.  Stayed  at  Medon  Station 
last  night,  and  arrived  here  at  3  this  p.  m.,  all  safe.  I  have 
to  go  back  to  Holly  Springs  to-morrow  to  testify  against 
the  i  OQth  for  disloyalty. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  14! 

Camp  at  Lagrange,  Tenn.,  November  17,  1862. 
Our  whole  regiment  went  on  picket  Saturday  evening.  Didn't 
reach  our  posts  until  9 130  p.  m.  Had  plenty  of  fresh  meat  next 
day  (notwithstanding  stringent  orders),  and  beautiful  weather. 
Our  going  on  picket  saved  us  a  tramp  of  22  miles,  for  which  1 
am  duly  grateful.  They  had  a  scare  at  Summerville  while  we 
we  were  out;  our  brigade  (except  we  who  were  on  duty)  were 
started  out,  nobody  hurt,  happy  to  chronicle.  Squads  of  prison- 
ers taken  by  our  cavalry  are  constantly  arriving  from  the  front. 
Very  little  skirmishing  though,  mostly  unarmed  citizens,  etc. 
There  are  an  immense  number  of  slaves  at  the  different  military 
posts  through  here  and  in  this  vicinity.  The  officials  are  using 
them  to  good  advantage  in  securing  the  large  crops  of  cotton 
to  the  Government.  The  camps  are  overflowing  with  them, 
and  their  music  and  dancing  furnish  the  boys  with  amuse- 
ment unlimited.  Don't  have  half  the  fun  with  the  natives 
that  I  used  to,  in  fact  haven't  spoken  to  any  since  I  have  been 
out  this  time.  Guess  I'm  steadying  down  some.  Like  soldier- 
ing as  well  as  ever  but  the  novelty's  gone,  and  its  more  like  a 
regular  way  of  living  to  me  than  a  spree  as  it  used  to  be.  Don't 
see  any  immediate  prospect  of  a  move,  but  a  chap  can't  tell 
what  any  symptom  means  here.  I'd  bet  several  times  that 
we're  on  the  point  of  starting.  We  have  been  reviewed  twice 
within  four  days  by  Grant,  McPherson,  McKean,  Logan  and 
Pugh. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  La  Grange,  Tenn., 

November  21,  1862. 

Every  one  seems  to  think  that  we  will  start  about  day- 
after  to-morrow,  Monday.  We  have  drawn  eight  days' 
rations,  and  200  rounds  of  ammunition  has  also  been  drawn 
for  our  corps.  I  don't  think  we  have  more  than  14,000  in 
our  corps,  Logan's  and  McKean's  Divisions,  although 
there  are  some  eight  or  ten  new  regiments  here  that  I 
don't  know,  where  assigned.  Report  to-day  says  that  Sher- 
man has  moved  from  Memphis  on  the  Holly  Springs  Pike. 


142  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

We  are  having  delightful  weather.  No  fires  are  necessary 
until  dark,  and  we  have  had  no  frosts  since  our  arrival. 
Hope  we  will  keep  ahead  of  cold  weather  if  compatible 
with  the  interests  of  the  service.  I  "borrowed"  some  citi- 
zens clothes  and  wrote  myself  a  pass  as  suttler's  clerk, 
last  night,  and  strolled  around  the  town  a  couple  of  hours. 
There  are  many  fine  buildings  here,  among  the  rest  two 
very  large  academies.  Many  of  the  Memphian  nobility 
have  country  seats  here,  some  of  them  most  elegant. 
Holly  Springs,  though,  is  the  most  important  summer  ren- 
dezvous for  the  Memphis  folk.  Our  people  have  left  the 
Springs,  and  I  don't  know  that  we  have  any  troops  in  ad- 
vance of  this  place.  I  am  very  comfortable  in  my  quarters. 
Have  plenty  of  blankets  and  a  good  stove.  My  colored 
boy,  Dave,  went  into  the  country  20  miles  last  night  and 
returned  this  p.  m.  with  his  wife,  a  delicate  looking  black 
woman,  neat  and  much  above  the  ordinary  slave.  She  has 
been  a  sewing  girl  all  her  life,  and  I  think  would  be  worth 
something  to  a  family  that  has  much  plain  sewing  to  do. 
I  think  I  will  try  to  send  her  to  Mrs.  S.  C.  Thompson. 
"Dave"  is  a  first  rate  cook  and  waiter,  and  I'll  keep  him 
with  me  until  the  war  closes  (if  he  don't  spoil)  and  then 
take  him  to  his  woman.  How'd  you  like  a  good  colored 
woman  for  your  kitchen?  This  woman  mended  my  pants 
(I  have  two  pairs)  as  neatly  as  any  tailor  could.  Our  regi- 
ment beats  19  out  of  20  of  the  old  ones  for  discipline,  and 
averages  with  them  for  drill.  Colonel  Dickerman  is  a  star, 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wright  is  proving  himself  much 
better  than  we  expected.  Colonel  Oglesby  has  figured  away 
ahead  of  anybody  I've  heard  of  yet  in  procuring  wagons, 
tents,  etc.,  for  this  regiment.  Ours  is  the  only  regiment 
I've  heard  of  yet  that  is  allowed  to  retain  the  old  comple- 
ment of  transportation,  equipage  and  tents.  I'm  officer  of 
the  day  and  'tis  my  duty  to  make  the  rounds  of  the  senti- 
nels to-night  at  I  or  2  o'clock ;  but  in  consideration  of — etc., 
think  the  formality  will  be  dispensed  with. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  143 

Camp  at  Lagrange,  Term.,  November  15,  1862. 
We're  having  more  of  a  rest  here  than  we  anticipated 
when  we  arrived.  Suppose  that  the  organizing  of  the  army 
into  divisions  and  brigades  delays  us  some;  and,  maybe, 
the  change  of  commanders  in  the  Potomac  army  has  some- 
thing to  do  with  it.  Or  possibly  we're  waiting  for  Mc- 
Clernand  to  move  from  Memphis.  I  don't  think  our  army 
here  (the  Corinth  and  Bolivar  forces)  is  very  large,  though 
some  estimate  it  quite  strong,  as  much  as  50,000  or  60,000. 
I  think  we  have  about  35,000,  maybe  less.  General  Lan- 
man  has  been  relieved  from  command  of  our  division  by 
General  McKean  and  ordered  to  Memphis.  Am  sorry  to 
lose  him.  He  has  few  equals  for  skill  in  handling  a  divi- 
sion or  honor  and  courage  as  a  soldier.  Am  much  afraid 
that  the  rainy  season  will  catch  us  in  the  midst  of  our  slow 
motions,  and  then  good  bye  all  hopes  of  the  war's  closing 
next  spring.  McPherson  and  Logan  promised  in  speeches 
a  few  days  since  that  we  would  finish  up  the  business 
within  40  days ;  and  I  believe  we  can,  West  of  Georgia,  if 
this  weather  will  continue  and  our  commanders  will  im- 
prove it.  Don't  believe  that  Price  will  date  to  fight  us 
anywhere,  certainly  not  this  side  of  Jackson.  We  can't 
have  more  than  40  days'  of  marching  weather  yet  until  the 
rains  come,  and  in  that  time  we  ought  at  least  to  make  250 
miles.  The  more  I  think  about  the  matter,  the  surer  I  am 
that  we  won't  do  much  before  next  May.  Well,  I  enjoy 
soldiering  and  can  stand  the  delay  in  proportion;  but  in- 
activity when  a  fellow  can't  see  the  reason  therefor,  is 
provoking  to  a  degree  extensive.  We  made  a  capital  start 
from  Peoria  to  this  place  in  five  days,  but  the  thing  hasn't 
been  followed  up.  Our  cavalry  has  been  doing  some  dash- 
ing work  here,  sums  up  about  300  prisoners,  etc.  But  the 
7th  hasn't  figured  much  therein,  at  least  not  in  reports, 
although  the  7th  boys  say  they  did  their  share.  I  have 
seen  all  my  acquaintances  in  the  7th,  and  the  8th  Infantry  is 
also  here.  Fred  Norcott  and  Milo  are  both  looking  splen- 


144  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

didly.  Also  Ben  Rockhold.  Tis  said  that  General  Logan 
publicly  disgraced  the  I7th  to-day  for  some  insult  to  him- 
self. Never  thought  much  of  that  i/th  and  think  less  now 
than  ever  before.  They  certainly  show  no  signs  of 
discipline  that  can  be  seen  by  the  naked  eye.  The  7th 
Kansas  Cavalry,  'tis  said,  proposed  in  writing  to  General 
Grant,  that  if  he  would  give  them  a  certain  time,  (no  other 
condition),  they  would  capture  or  kill  General  Price.  I 
wish  he'd  do  it.  They  would  raise  the  d — 1  around  the 
Rebel  army,  and  I  believe  it  practicable  at  any  time  for 
500  daring  men  to  reach  the  person  of  any  of  our  com- 
manders, and  why  not  theirs.  They  are  cutting  our 
baggage  down  to  a  very  small  compass,  so  that  six  wagons 
can  haul  for  ten  companies.  I'm  opposed  to  it,  but  Halleck 
ranks  me  and  I  will  have  to  submit.  Nobody  in  this  coun- 
try seems  to  care  a  cuss  whether  McClellan  is  removed  or 
not.  General  feeling  is  that  the  Potomac  Army  is  only 
good  to  draw  greenbacks  and  occupy  winter  quarters. 
We're  in  hopes  that  Pope  will  be  sent  back  to  us  after  he 
finishes  hanging  those  Indians.  I  don't  believe  there  is 
a  regiment  in  this  army  that  would  not  cheer  him  as  its 
corps  commander.  Everybody  seems  to  be  willing  to  bet 
something  on  Pope.  Hurlbut  is  the  most  popular  man 
here  as  a  division  commander,  and  I  think  that  Grant 
could  get  more  votes  than  any  other  man  for  commander 
of  the  army,  always  excepting  Rosy.  Grant  is  not  so  popu- 
lar among  the  general  officers,  as  far  as  I  know,  but  the 
whole  line  believe  in  him,  mostly,  because  he  is  for  going 
ahead  and  will  fight  his  men.  The  Memphis  force  hasn't 
moved  yet  that  I  can  hear  of.  Everything  goes  on  swim- 
mingly in  the  iO3d.  The  old  regiments  try  to  bore  our 
boys  by  calling  them  conscripts  and  $40  men,  but  don't 
succeed  well.  In  a  march  of  15  miles  last  week  an  old 
regiment,  3d  Iowa,  tried  to  run  us  down  but  it  ended  in 
our  marching  right  through  them.  Dorrance  is  an  excel- 
lent fellow  in  the  field,  wouldn't  trade  him  for  any  other 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  145 

lieutenant  in  the  regiment.  The  Democratic  victories  at 
the  polls  don't  excite  anyone  here.  We  only  wish  the 
soldiers  could  vote.  Illinois  would  talk  differently  if  we 
could.. 

Camp  I03d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

January  12,  1863. 

Your  letters  are  beginning  to  come  through  with  more  reg- 
ularity and  on  decidedly  better  time.  Have  received  your  date 
of  December  30,  although  the  last  was  dated  November  i6th, 
and  was  the  first  you  wrote  after  we  left  Peoria.  You  bewailed 
our  being  sent  south  of  Cairo,  which  I  think  very  un- 
generous in  you.  Well,  you'll  probably  be  suited  in  our 
present  location,  which  is  the  only  consolation  I  have  in  be- 
ing sent  so  far  rearward.  There  are  some  slight  hopes  though, 
that  we  may  be  sent  to  Vicksburg,  which  will  ripen  into  a 
distant  probability  (nothing  more  I'm  afraid)  if  the  news  of 
our  repulse  there  be  true.  We're  encamped  in  the  suburbs  of 
this  delightful  little  town,  but  so  strict  are  the  orders  of  the 
general  (Sullivan)  that,  as  far  as  seeing  the  town  or  making 
purchases  therein  are  concerned,  we  might  as  well  be  camped 
on  Pike's  Peak.  All  right,  Mr.  Sullivan,  have  your  own  way. 
He  is  by  all  odds  the  most  like  a  soldier  of  all  the  garrison 
commandants  I  have  been  under.  Will  wager  that  you  will 
never  hear  of  his  being  surprised.  The  news  from  Holly 
Springs  is  that  the  last  house  in  the  town  was  burned  night 
before  last.  Pretty  rough,  but  I  say,  amen.  Its  pretty  well 
understood  in  this  army  now  that  burning  Rebel  property  is 
not  much  of  a  crime.  I  for  one  will  never  engage  in  it,  until 
orders  are  issued  making  it  duty,  and  then  I  think  I  can  enjoy 
it  as  much  as  any  of  them.  If  any  part  of  this  army  is  ever 
called  home  to  quell  those  Illinois  tories,  orders  to  burn  and 
destroy  will  not  be  necessary.  Since  I  have  seen  the  proceed- 
ings of  that  traitorous  legislature,  I  begin  to  understand  why 
these  loyal  Tennesseans  and  Alabamians  are  so  much  more 
bitter  against  traitors  than  we  are.  It  would  make  your  blood 


146  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

run  cold  to  hear  the  men  in  this  army,  without  regard  to  party, 
curse  those  traitors.  There  is  a  gay  time  in  prospect  for  those 
chaps.  Don't  think  I  am  much  out  of  the  way  in  saying  that 
Merrick,  Jem  Allen,  Dick  Richardson,  and  the  editors  of  the 
Chicago  Times  would  be  hung  if  caught  within  the  lines  of 
many  Illinois  regiments  in  this  army.  There  are  many  officers 
who,  while  they  doubt  our  ability  to  subjugate  (that  is  the  ques- 
tion) the  South,  would  take  an  active  part  in  ending  the  man 
who  would  propose  to  give  the  thing  up.  I  come  pretty  near  be- 
longing to  that  party,  though  I  think  that  if  we  can't  accomp- 
lish the  whole  end  desired,  we  can  confine  the  Rebels  to  Vir- 
ginia (Eastern),  the  Carolinas,  Georgia  and  Florida.  Alabama, 
I  believe,  we  can  hold  if  we  get  Mississippi.  Boats  which  left 
Vicksburg  on  the  6th  inst.  reported  it  taken,  but  it  must  be 
a  mistake,  as  it  has  not  been  confirmed.  I  think  it  was  wicked 
to  put  that  brave  old  8th  Missouri  and  4th  Iowa  into  the  front 
of  the  battle,  after  they  had  suffered  so  severely  at  Donaldson, 
Shiloh,  Farmington,  etc.,  but  ever  since  Shiloh  it  seems  that  the 
old  soldiers  have  had  the  front  all  the  time.  'Tis  reported  that 
when  Grant  moves  again,  he  will  leave  all  the  new  regiments 
as  railroad  and  property  guards,  and  move  with  the  old  army. 
The  last  night  I  stayed  in  Holly  Springs,  Mrs.  Stricklin  in- 
vited in  some  young  ladies  to  help  entertain  the  colonel,  Lieu- 
tenant Nickolet  and  myself.  They  beat  all  the  secesh  I  have 
seen  yet.  One  of  them  played  all  the  secesh  pieces  she  knew, 
and  when  I  asked  her  to  play  "John  Brown,"  she  swelled  up 
so  with  wrath,  that  I  was  strongly  tempted  to  propose  tying 
my  suspenders  around  her  to  save  hooks  and  eyes.  One  of  them 
asked  me  if  I  did  not  think  the  Southerners  the  most  polite, 
refined  and  agreeable  people  I  had  ever  met.  It  took  me 
twenty  minutes  before  I  could  finish  blushing  for  her  lack  of 
modesty,  and  then  I  was  so  dead  beat  that  I  could  only  take  up 
the  word  refined,  and  tell  her  how  much  I  admired  their  beau- 
tiful use  of  language.  I  instanced,  "what  do  you'uns  all  come 
down  here  to  fight  we'uns  for,"  "I  recon  we  war  thar,"  which 
you'll  hear  from  the  best  of  them.  That  first  quotation  as 
they  speak  it  is  the  funniest  sentence  imaginable.  I  got  into 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  147 

a  row  with  every  one  I  talked  with,  but  finally,  was  fool  enough 
to  escort  one  home.  Rumor  (almost  official)  says  to-night 
that  we  go  to  Memphis  to-morrow,  or  soon,  and  thence  to 
Vicksburg.  Congratulate  us  on  our  good  luck.  This  regiment 
will  never  be  satisfied  without  a  fight.  They  run  in  in  our 
pickets  once  and  awhile  here,  and  I  believe  two  were  killed 
(pickets)  yesterday,  but  guess  there  is  no  chance  for  a  fight. 
The  i8th  Illinois  Infantry  is  being  mounted. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

January  16,  1862. 

It  commenced  raining  early  the  morning  of  the  I4th  and 
did  not  cease  until  about  2  a.  m.  the  I5th,  since  when  it  has 
snowed  steadily  until  within  two  hours.  The  snow  is  some 
eight  inches  deep,  underneath  which  is  mud  immeasurable. 
The  rain  the  last  six  or  eight  hours  came  through  our  tent 
as  through  a  sieve,  the  snow  came  in  at  the  top,  through  the 
door,  and  blew  under  the  curtains.  Everybody's  wearing  ap- 
parel, blankets,  and  self  absorbed  all  the  damp  possible,  and 
besides  carried  all  that  would  hold  on  outside.  Our  stove  was 
in  this  extremity  our  comfort  and  our  joy.  We  kept  two  loyal 
Ethiopians  busy  during  the  two  days,  getting  wood,  and  feed- 
ing said  comforter.  Great  was  the  tribulation,  and  much 
audible  cursing  resulted,  while  the  secret  history  of  oaths 
unuttered,  would  I'm  afraid,  fill  many  volumes,  and  in  all  hu- 
man probability  cause,  if  made  public,  the  appointment  of 
many  army  chaplains.  This  is  the  first  winter  weather  that 
we  have  had,  and  I'll  be  willing  if  it  proves  the  last,  although 
there  is  a  half  melancholy  pleasure  in  spludging  around  in  this 
slop  and  taking  the  weather  as  it  comes,  without  its  first  be- 
ing made  to  feel  the  refining  influence  of  house  walls  and  good 
warm  fires.  Our  men  have  become  quite  soldier-like,  and  en- 
dure without  much  murmuring  the  little  ills  as  they  come. 
It  shows  some  of  the  principles  of  manhood,  you  must  be- 
lieve, when  men  stand  this  weather  in  these  worthless  little 
wedge  tents,  without  fires  and  without  grumbling.  I  got  four 
of  my  men  discharged  to-day,  and  want  to  discharge  some 


148  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

six  or  eight  more.  When  I  get  my  deadheads  off  my  hands 
will  have  some  70  good  men  left.  Rather  think  now,  that  we 
are  stationary  here  for  the  winter,  but  we  may  possibly  be 
sent  to  Vicksburg,  than  which  nothing  will  suit  us  better  There 
are  some  eight  or  nine  regiments  here,  two  or  three  of  them 
cavalry.  The  enemy  is  pretty  well  cleared  out  of  this  strip 
of  country,  and  if  Rosecrans  gets  down  into  North  Alabama, 
opinion  seems  to  be  that  some  of  us  can  be  spared  from  here 
for  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson.  Several  houses  have  been 
burned  here  lately.  This  town  will  share  the  fate  of  Holly 
Springs,  sure,  if  the  Rebels  trouble  us  here  any  more.  'Tis 
fearfully  secesh,  and  a  little  fire  will,  I  think,  help  to  purify  it. 
Isn't  it  wonderful  how  with  so  much  fighting  everywhere  I 
have  escaped  so  long?  The  whole  of  the  loth  Illinois  In- 
fantry were  with  me  in  luck  until  the  last  fight  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  and  am  not  certain  they  participated  in  that.  There  are 
two  regiments  here  that  have  endured  all  of  this  storm  with- 
out tents.  I  suppose  the  Lord  takes  care  of  them  fellows,  if 
it's  a  fact  that  he  looks  after  sheared  sheep  and  birds.  From 
my  heart  I  pity  them,  though  that  strikes  me  as  something 
like  the  little  boy  who,  when  his  mother  put  him  to  bed  and 
covered  him  with  an  old  door,  told  her  how  much  he  pitied 
folks  who  had  no  doors  to  cover  themselves  with  while  they 
slept.  That's  a  story  mother  and  aunt  used  to  tell  me  in  my 
trundle-bed  days.  Wonder  if  aunty  has  forgotten  the  story 
that  used  to  make  Tip  and  me  rave.  All  about  how  that  "great 
big  prairie  wolf  bit  a  wee  boy's  head  off."  I  almost  forgot 
that  I  am  out  of  woollen  socks.  Have  only  the  pair  of  socks 
that  are  on  my  feet.  Put  them  on  this  morning,  and  there 
were  so  many  holes  that  I  could  hardly  tell  where  to  put  my 
feet  in.  Wish  you'd  send  me  three  or  four  pair.  Will  make 
cotton  ones  do  until  then.  I  can  send  you  a  nigger  baby 
if  it  would  be  acceptable.  They  are  more  "antic"  than  either  a 
squirrel  or  monkey.  I  have  two  he  niggers,  two  she's  and 
three  babies,  mess  property.  Think  I  will  either  have  to  drown 
the  babies,  or  sell  them  and  the  women,  whom  I  endure  be- 
cause their  husbands  are  such  good  hands.  Will  you  take 
one? 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  149 

Camp  Reed,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

January  22,  1863. 

I  received  your  four- volume  letter  of  the  5th,  I2th,  I3th 
inst.  last  night,  and  return  you  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  time 
and  writing  material  you  expended  in  my  behalf.  I  suppose 
that  you  now  understand  why  you  did  not  receive  my  letters. 

You  ask  me  how  I  like  the  news  from  Vicksburg.  All  right. 
That  was  only  a  little  reconnoisance  in  force,  which  paid  its 
way  by  gobbling  up  Arkansas  post.  We  want  to  get  these 
seceshers  all  together  at  Vicksburg  and  then  close  the  war  in 
this  country.  Wait  about  a  month,  if  you  want  to  hear  a  call 
for  bombazine,  etc.  We'll  have  that  little  town  then,  or  a 
very  large  portion  of  the  loyal  people  of  Illinois  will  go  to 
make  that  a  very  fertile  point.  By  the  way,  aren't  you  afraid 
that  Rosecrans  will  get  his  hands  full  if  it  be  true  that  Long- 
street  with  13  brigades  has  arrived  at  Chattanooga?  Guess 
those  Eastern  Rebels  must  know  better  how  to  fight  than 
Bragg,  Price,  Van  Dorn,  etc.,  at  any  rate  I'm  a  little  suspi- 
cious of  that  Longstreet  and  wish  that  one  or  two  of  these 
divisions  here  could  be  sent  to  oppose.  Believe  I  would  rather 
we  would  be  whipped  here  than  see  "Rosy"  beaten.  There 
will  be  somebody  awfully  hurt  though,  before  that  latter  item 
takes  place,  and  Rosecrans  himself  will  never  live  to  read  an 
account  of  it. 

Staff  appointments  are  nicer  than  the  line  business,  but 
chance  for  promotion  is  not  so  great  nor  so  honorable  in  my 
opinion.  Although  one  does  get  more  credit  in  reports,  and 
has  more  influence.  Anyway  the  chances  for  a  captain  to  be 
detached  on  staff  duty  are  very  limited,  and  nearly  always 
matters  of  outside  influence.  A  first  lieutenant's  chance  on 
his  merits  are  much  better  for  several  reasons.  Officers  are 
beginning  to  resign  in  a  very  lively  manner  in  our  regiment. 
Am  satisfied  that  of  the  original  captains,  only  Sid.,  Frank 
Post  and  myself  will  be  left  in  two  months  from  now,  and  I 
can  see  that  both  Sid.  and  Frank  would  not  object  to  being 
let  out  gently  and  honorably,  especially  if  they  could  happen 


150  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

on  a  good  little  fight  shortly,  and  then  leave.  Poor  fellows! 
One  has  a  new  wife  and  the  other  an  old  girl,  each  gets  five 
letters  a  week  and  looks  a  little  sicker  after  each  letter  than 
before.  Guess  I'll  have  to  get  me  one  of  them  girls  to  be  in 
the  fashion,  though  I  haven't  yet  got  over  that  one's  patting 
me  on  the  shoulder  when  I  enlisted,  telling  me  what  a 
fine,  brave  fellow,  etc.,  I  was  and  then  marrying  within  three 
weeks  after  I'd  gone.  I'm  not  very  desperate  in  consequence, 
but  can't  think  it  was  fair.  Sid.  got  back  from  Cairo  to-night 
with  his  men,  minus  30,  of  whom  some  ten  deserted  and  the 
remainder  were  left  sick.  Profitable  trip.  We  are  on  half 
rations  again  for  five  days,  but  I  managed  to  secure  a  700- 
pound  beef  for  my  company,  so  we'll  not  starve.  I  report 
more  men  for  duty  than  any  other  company  in  the  regiment. 
Call  that  doing  pretty  well  when  you  consider  that  mine  is  a 
picked  company.  Major  Phelps  is  here  and  says  we  will  be 
paid  off  shortly.  That  means  between  now  and  July  as  I 
take  it.  Am  not  particular  though.  Uncle  Sam  can  go  to  the 

d 1  with  his  greenbacks,  if  he'll  only  send  us  to    Rosy    or 

Vicksburg.  Weather  here  has  moderated  considerably.  It  is 
I  o'clock  a.  m.  now  and  I  am  without  coat  or  fire  and  am  com- 
fortable. I  never  retire  before  I  or  2  o'clock  any  more.  Am 
ashamed  to  say  what  time  I  get  up.  We  think  here  that  this 
place  and  Corinth  will  be  evacuated  ere  long  Troops  are  pass- 
ing through  here  from  Corinth  every  day,  going  to  Vicksburg. 
Every  sign  says  that  we  will  leave  here  within  ten  days,  but 
all  signs  are  unsartin.  The  moon  to-night  says  a  dry  month. 
Don't  I  hope  she  won't  fool  us.  This  half-ration  business  is 
only  so  in  name,  the  full  ration  has  a  tremendous  margin  for 
waste  and  men  can  grow  fat  on  half  rations.  I  do  believe  that 
they  live  just  as  well.  When  the  ist  of  January  proclamation 
was  issued  a  number  of  our  officers  became  very  much  ex- 
cited. Several  of  them  talked  strongly  of  tendering  their 
resignations  in  consequence  thereof,  and  one  of  them  really  did. 
But  we  were  too  strong  for  the  d d  compromising  lick- 
spittles, and  to-day  you  can't  hear  a  whimper  against  it.  The 
major  and  adjutant  were  strongly  opposed  to  it,  but  they  dare 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  151 

not  say  so  to-day.  All  of  that  excitement  at  home  is  working 
on  the  army  though,  and  even  if  it  requires  bayonets,  the  good 
of  the  army  demands  that  the  agitation  cease.  That  is  the 
cause  of  all  the  desertions,  and  they  are  many  that  are  occur- 
ring, and  nine-tenths  of  the  discontent  and  demoralization 
spring  from  the  same  source.  A  tremendous  number  have  de- 
serted of  late  and  the  evil  is  growing..  Thousands  would  leave 
if  we  could  be  stationed  on  the  border.  Well,  the  old  soldiers 
are  very,  very  tired  of  the  war.  Any  number  of  them  would 
recognize  three  or  four  confederacies  to  get  home,  and  their 
influence  over  the  new  men  is  boundless.  The  Confederate 
rank  and  file  feels  the  same  way.  Nineteen-twentieths  would 
vote  for  the  United  States  or  any  other  man  to  secure  peace, 
but  their  officers  and  citizens  control  the  matter.  It  don't 
make  any  difference  what  commission  you  intrust  your  sani- 
tary stores  to  for  the  stealings  are  all  in  the  hospitals,  and 
these  sanitary  commissaries  all  issue  to  any  hospital  that  is  in 
need. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

February  I,  1863. 

I'm  on  duty  as  "field  officer  of  the  day,"  and  have  been 
temping  around  in  the  mud  looking  to  policing,  guards, 
etc.,  and  just  now  a  detail  has  come  for  me  to  go  on  picket 
to-morrow.  I  was  only  relieved  from  picket  yesterday 
morning.  We  are  very  short  of  officers,  having  only  n 
for  duty  in  the  regiment.  All  sick.  D — n  'em,  they  ought 
to  resign  and  let  men  draw  the  pay  who  do  the  work.  I 
have  seven  men  in  the  hospital  now,  one  of  whom  is  going 
to  die.  Poor  fellow,  how  I  do  pity  him.  I  never  thought 
as  much,  even  of  my  sick  comrades  in  the  8th,  as  I  do  of 
my  men  when  they  get  sick.  James  Colton  is  the  one's 
name  who  is  the  sickest.  He  is  a  real  good  young  man  and 
has  a  wife.  Lives  in  the  west  part  of  the  country.  Mine 
is  the  only  company  that  has  no  deserters  yet,  and  I  don't 
believe  I  will  have  any.  Half  of  these  desertions  are  the 


152  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

fault  of  officers.  I  have  been  out  this  evening  calling  on 
a  family  named  Stephens,  living  near  our  camp.  They  are 
strongly  secesh,  but  very  fine  people.  No  girls  in  the 
family  but  a  splendid  looking  young  wife.  I  guess  that 
we  are  cut  out  of  that  Vicksburg  fight,  though  if  this 
place  is  evacuated,  there  is  a  chance  yet.  That  is  the  only 
one  though,  for  all  the  troops  except  our  brigade  have  left 
here.  Some  to  Memphis,  and  I  suppose,  below.  It  makes 
our  duty  pretty  heavy.  Picket  every  third  day,  besides 
police,  foraging,  and  fatigue  and  camp  guard.  But  I  al- 
ways enjoy  duty  better  than  quiet  camp  life.  I'm  afraid 
this  agitation  North  is  going  to  play  the  d — 1  with  the 
army.  The  great  body  is  loyal  enough  but  can't  help  being 
discouraged  and,  in  a  degree,  disappointed  when  treason 
is  preached  openly  in  the  North  and  unrebuked.  Confin- 
ing a  lot  of  those  traitors  would  have  an  excellent  effect  on 
the  soldiers ;  but  I  believe  that  Lincoln  is  almost  afraid 
to  try  that  again.  If  this  regiment  is  paid  off  before  there 
is  the  change  in  officers  there  should  be,  I'm  afraid  deser- 
tions will  be  very  numerous.  I  begin  to  feel  some  of  the 
old  soldier's  prejudice  against  the  "forty-dollar  man,"  but 
I  do  believe  we  can,  if  properly  officered,  make  a  crack  regi- 
ment. I  tell  you,  between  ourselves,  that  of  the  30  line 
officers  there  are  not  more  than  six  that  are  worth  their 
salt.  The  others  do  100  times  more  harm  than  good  to  the 
service.  I  modestly  count  myself  one  of  the  six,  so  that 
you  can  judge  better  what  I  think  they  are.  I  read  Dick 
Oglesby's  speech  to-day.  The  sentiment  is  all  right,  but  he 
can  talk  much  better  than  that.  Suppose  he  is  out  of  prac- 
tice. We  are  a  little  afraid  of  the  result  of  the  Vicksburg 
fight.  If  we  get  whipped  I'd  like  to  die  there,  for  I  believe 
if  that  army  is  whipped  it  will  be  annihilated ;  and  the  cause 
about  lost,  which  little  event  I  don't  care  to  live  to  hear. 
You  can't  imagine  how  careful  the  commanders  are  here 
of  secesh  property.  Well,  if  'tis  through  the  right  motive, 
I  say  all  right,  and  I  guess  it  is,  but  it  hurts  me  anyway. 
I  can't  help  hoping  that  this  town  will  be  burned  when  evac- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  153 

uated,  for  it  is  the  most  intensely  secession  place  of  all.  It 
first  unfurled  the  Rebel  flag  in  this  State,  and  sticks  to  its 
colors  nobly.  It  is  rumored  that  Van  Dorn  is  coming  in  this 
direction  again.  I  do  hope  he  will  come  here,  for  if  we  can 
drive  him  off,  it  would  hurt  the  natives  so  much  to  see  him 
whipped. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

February  7,  '63. 

There  was  a  dose  of  medicine  administered  to  the  command 
in  this  district  yesterday  that  will  certainly  be  productive  of 
good.  I  already  feel  that  it  has  indued  me  with  fresh  vigor 
and  really  made  me  quite  young  again.  "The  sale  or  introduc- 
tion of  the  Chicago  Times  in  this  district  is  hereby  forbidden 
until  further  orders."  By  order  of  Brig.  Gen'l.  J.  C.  Sullivan. 

That  same  d d  old  skeesicks  has  been  protecting  secesh 

property  here  in  the  strictest  manner,  and  I'd  never  thought  it 
possible  for  him  to  do  as  good  a  thing.  It  will  do  an  immen- 
sity of  good  to  the  army,  and  if  the  President  will  only  sup- 
press the  paper  and  several  others  of  the  same  stripe,  and  hang 
about  200  prominent  copperhead  scoundrels  in  the  North,  we 
may  then  hope  that  the  army  will  once  more  be  something  like 
its  former  self.  Just  as  true  as  there  is  a  God,  if  I  was 
provost  marshal  in  Fulton  County,  with  my  company  for  a 
guard,  I'd  hang  at  least  ten  men  whose  names  I  have.  I  know 
I'd  be  wrong,  and  would  have  no  right  to  do  so,  but  the  good 
I'd  do  the  Uuion  troops  would  amply  repay  me  for  getting  my 
own  neck  stretched.  You  can't  imagine  how  much  harm  those 
traitors  are  doing,  not  only  with  their  papers,  but  they  are 
writing  letters  to  the  boys  which  would  discourage  the  most 
loyal  of  men,  if  they  failed  to  demoralize  them.  I  believe  that 
about  every  enlisted  man  in  our  regiment  has  received  one 
or  more  of  these  letters.  My  boys  have  shown  me  a  number 
from  their  friends,  all  of  which  would  help  to  make  a  man 
who  relied  on  his  friends  for  his  ideas,  discontented.  I  assure 
you  that  it  is  by  no  means  the  lightest  portion  of  an  officer's 


154  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

duties  now,  to  counteract  the  effect  of  these  letters.  I  know 
that  I  put  in  a  great  deal  more  of  my  time  than  I  wish  to,  in 
talking  patriotism  at  the  boys  and  doing  good,  round,  solid 
cursing  at  the  home  cowardly  vipers,  who  are  disgracing  the 
genus,  man,  by  their  conduct.  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  expressing  myself  on  the  subject  as  I  have,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Dorrance's  talking  the  same  way,  have  had  a  good  effect 
on  our  men,  for  not  only  have  we  had  no  deserters,  but  the 
copperhead  letters  received  in  our  company  have  been  an- 
swered as  patriots  and  soldiers  should  answer  them. 

Ninth. — Papers  of  the  6th  give  me  much  pleasure.  The  dash- 
ing move  of  the  ram  "Queen  of  the  West,"  the  gallant  fight 
of  our  soldiers  at  Corinth,  are  certainly  enough  good  news  for 
one  day.  At  noon  roll  call  to-day,  I  spoke  to  my  men  of  the 
resolutions  passed  by  the  officers  at  Corinth  and  approved  by 
the  soldiers,  and  told  them  that  a  chance  would  be  offered 
them  in  a  few  days  to  vote  on  similar  ones.  They  received 
the  latter  statement  with  a  cheer  that  plainly  showed  their 
mind  on  the  subject.  I  believe  that  the  whole  regiment  with 
a  proper  action  of  the  officers  for  a  few  days,  will  denounce 
copperheadism,  even  in  terms  strong  enough  to  suit  the  Chi- 
cago Tribune.  'Twill  be  the  officers  fault  if  we  don't.  If  we 
were  only  officered  properly  throughout  there  would  never 
have  been  a  word  of  dissatisfaction  in  the  regiment.  That  is 
rather  a  solemn  subject.  I  have  advised  my  men  to  whip  any 
enlisted  man  they  hear  talking  copperheadism,  if  they  are  able, 
and  at  all  hazards  to  try  it,  and  if  I  hear  any  officer  talking  it 
that  I  think  I  can't  whale,  I'm  going  to  prefer  charges  against 
him.  Doing  plenty  of  duty  now ;  on  picket  every  other  day. 
Last  night  I  had  command  of  a  guard  at  General  Hospital  No. 
i,  or  rather  we  guarded  it  in  the  day  time,  relieved  at  9  p.  m. 
and  went  on  again  at  daylight.  I  had  some  friends  in  the 
hospital,  steward,  warden  and  clerks,  and  they  made  it  very 
pleasant  for  me.  That  is  they  fed  me  on  sanitary  cake,  but- 
ter, etc.,  induced  me  to  drink  some  sanitary  wine,  beer,  etc., 
and  also  to  sleep  between  sanitary  sheets,  with  my  head  on  a 
sanitary  pillow,  etc.,  and  again  this  morning  to  accept  a  bottle 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  1 55 

of  sanitary  brandy  and  a  couple  of  bottles  of  sanitary  porter. 
All  of  which  I  did,  knowing  that  I  was  sinning.  I  write  you  this 
that  you  may  feel  you  are  doing  your  country  some  good  in 
forwarding  the  above  articles  for  the  benefit  of  the  soldiers. 
You  will  of  course,  give  these  encouraging  items  to  your  co- 
workers. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

February  15,  1863. 

It's  1 1  o'clock  now,  so  I  haven't  much  time  to  write.  We've 
been  having  some  trouble  in  the  regiment  this  week.  The 
colonel  appointed  Lieutenant  Mattison,  captain  of  Company 
"I,"  vice  Medley,  resigned,  and  Lieutenant  Dorrance,  cap- 
tain of  Company  K,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  King's 
death.  The  men  in  both  companies  swore  they  wouldn't  do 
duty  under  the  new  officers,  and  the  devil's  to  pay.  The  col- 
onel finally  relieved  them  both  from  their  new  commands, 
doubting  his  right  to  enforce  obedience  until  the  new  officers 
had  received  their  commissions,  which  will  probably  be  some 
two  or  three  weeks  hence,  when  the  men  will  undoubtedly  have 
to  submit,  even  if  harsh  measures  have  to  be  resorted  to  to 
make  them.  The  colonel  has  appointed  Geo.  Wilkinson,  of 
Farmington,  and  Mr.  Wagstaff,  who  formerly  worked  in  the 
Ledger  office,  for  my  first  and  second  lieutenants.  My  com- 
pany have  received  them  well,  and  I  am  well  pleased  with  both 
of  them  so  far.  I  like  quiet  people.  I  enclose  you  some 
resolutions  which  have  been  submitted  to  all  the  troops  here 
for  their  adoption.  We  voted  by  companies.  Company  A,  I, 
and  F  opposed  them  strongly,  more  on  account  of  the  spirit 
of  dissatisfaction  and  discontent,  which  is  rampant  among 
them,  than  because  of  opposition  to  the  principles  they  embody. 

Colonel  D seems  to  allow  the  trouble  in  his  regiment  to 

wear  upon  him.  He  has  not  the  decision  I  once  gave  him 
credit  for.  Wears  gloves  at  the  wrong  time  in  handling  men. 
One  more  case  where  my  judgment  has  fooled  me  during  my 
army  experience.  Can't  now  remember  where  it  was  correct. 


156  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

You  certainly  have  to  measure  men  by  different  standard  in 
the  army  from  that  used  at  home.  Everybody  thinks  we  are 
going  to  evacuate  here  within  a  month.  It  looks  like  it,  but 
can't  see  why  we  should.  Nearly  all  the  troops  are  gone.  Our 
regiment  and  the  5oth  Indiana  have  to  do  all  the  picket  duty. 
We  are  on  every  other  day  as  regularly  as  clock  work.  I  like 
it  better  than  lying  in  camp.  Union  citizens  say  that  we  will 
be  attacked  here  the  last  of  this  week  or  first  of  next,  by 
forces  which  are  now  crossing  the  Tennessee.  That's  too  old, 
played  out,  etc.  There's  never  any  danger  of  a  fight  where 
I  am.  One  of  my  boys  died  the  other  day,  the  first  I  have  lost. 
Typhus  fever,  following  measles,  killed  him.  Was  a  real 
good  soldier.  Geo.  Trader  by  name ;  lived  near  Ellisville.  I 
have  two  more  quite  dangerously  sick,  but  the  general  health 
of  the  regiment  is  improving.  You  don't  know  how  much  I 
love  these  men  I  have  under  me.  Not  as  individuals  many  of 
them,  but  as  soldiers,  of  my  company,  for  whose  actions,  and 
in  a  measure,  health,  I  am  responsible.  Something,  I  suppose, 
like  the  love  of  a  parent  for  his  children.  I  never  thought  I 
could  feel  half  the  interest  in  the  welfare  of  my  brother  man 
as  I  do  now  for  these  men. 

Camp  I03d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

February  18,  1863. 

The  prominent  rumor  to-day,  and  one  in  which  there  seems 
to  be  considerable  stock  taken,  is  that  Governor  Yates  has 
obtained  authority  from  the  general  government  to  have  sev- 
eral regiments  from  Grant's  army  returned  to  Illinois,  as  a 
kind  of  public  police.  That  is,  to  repress  copperheadism,  en- 
force the  collection  of  the  taxes,  etc.  The  sequel  is:  Colonel 
Babcock  and  Colonel  Kellogg  are  now  with  Grant,  bearing  dis- 
patches from  Governor  Yates  to  the  above  effect,  and  figuring 
to  get  certain  regiments,  one  of  which  is  the  iO3d,  and  that 
we  will  be  in  Springfield  within  three  weeks.  All  very  nice — 
but — etc.  I  know  that  if  we  are  sent  up  to  that  copperhead- 
infested  country  we  will  not  be  used  for  anything  but  to  guard 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  157 

Rebel  prisoners ;  and  I  do  pray  to  be  excused  from  any  such 
"pursuit  of  happiness."  I  would  love  right  well  to  help  manu- 
facture loyal  men  ojut  of  some  of  those  Illinois  traitors,  but  am 
considerably  suspicious  of  the  trip.  We  finally  got  those  reso- 
lutions adopted,  after  a  speech  from  Colonel  Dunham,  without 
a  dissenting  voice,  though  it  was  by  no  means  a  unanimous  vote. 
Don't  think  that  more  than  two-thirds  voted  aye,  though  don't 
let  any  of  the  democratic  'friends  know  anything  to  the  con- 
rary,  but  that  we  all  voted  for  it.  The  regiment  is  going  to 

the  d 1  as  fast  as  time  will  let  it ;  though  my  company  and 

Sid's,  are  all  right  yet,  and  two  more  are  tolerable.  It  almost 
gives  me  the  blues.  Don't  say  a  word  of  the  above,  but  I  can't 
help  writing  it  to  you.  'Tis  so  late  and  I'm  so  sleepy  that  I 
must  adjourn.  Was  on  picket  last  night  in  the  rain  all  night. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

February  25,  1863. 

I  guess  it's  full  two  weeks  since  I  wrote  you  last,  excepting 
a  half  sheet  a  few  days  ago.  My  reason  is  that  it  has  been 
raining  ever  since,  and  my  tent  leaks  so  that  (that's  rather  a 
larger  story  than  I  think  you'll  swallow,  so  I'll  not  spoil  paper 
by  finishing  it)  ;  but,  Scotland,  how  it  does  rain  here.  Com- 
mences slowly  and  gently,  comes  straight  down  and  continues 
coming  for  about  24  hours  in  the  same  manner.  Mercury  at 
about  35  degrees.  Then  the  wind  will  commence  blowing, 
cool,  cooler,  cold.  Stop  the  rain,  scatter  the  clouds,  and  get- 
ting warm  again  will,  in  a  day  or  so,  gather  the  moisture  from 
the  surface,  and  probably  give  us  one  pleasant  day,  rarely  more. 
It  seems  to  me  there  has  not  been  a  day  this  winter  when  the 
sun  shone,  and  the  air  was  calm,  that  I  needed  a  fire,  and  I 
remember  but  one  day  during  which  the  mercury  sunk  as  low 
as  10  degrees.  We  had  two  nice  "falls"  of  snow,  but  they 
found  they'd  lit  in  the  wrong  country  and  evacuated  in  quick 
time.  It  can't  snow  here  to  much  advantage,  but  I  am  sure 
the  rest  of  the  world  could  learn  from  this  region  on  the  rain 
question.  Canton  is  a  parlor  compared  to  this  town.  Part  of 
the  town  is  on  rolling  ground,  but  the  hillside  seems  even 
muddier  than  the  valleys.  This  town  is  thrice  the  size  of  Can- 


158  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

ton,  and  has  ten  times  as  many  costly  dwellings,  but  the  side- 
walks and  streets  will  not  compare  with  yours.  The  arrange- 
ments of  gardens  is  passable  and  much  taste  is  shown  in  the 
distribution  of  evergreens.  One  gentleman  living  between  our 
camp  and  town  has  10,000  pines,  hollies,  cedars,  etc.,  in  the 
grounds  surrounding  his  house.  The  grounds  comprise  may- 
be fifteen  acres.  I  mean  he  had  10,000  trees,  but  the  Yankees 
burned  the  fences  around  his  paradise,  and  have  in  various 
ways  managed  to  destroy  a  few  thousand  evergreens  A  kind 
of  a  parody,  you  understand,  on  that  Bible  story  of  the  devil 
in  Eden.  Colonel  Kellogg  is  here  to-night,  but  goes  to  Mem- 
phis to-morrow  where  he  will  join  Colonel  Babcock.  They  may 
both  be  here  again  within  a  week,  but  it  is  not  certain.  He 
says  we  may  be  thankful  we  are  not  in  the  Yazoo  Swamp  or 
at  Vicksburg,  but  two  months  heavy  picketing  here  have  ren- 
dered me  unable  to  see  it  in  that  light.  Our  pickets  have  been 
fired  on  twice  during  the  last  two  days.  Nobody  hurt,  I  be- 
lieve. We  have  news  to-night  of  General  Dodge,  of  Corinth, 
capturing  some  200  prisoners  and  a  train  of  wagons  at  Tus- 
cumbia,  Ala.  How  I  do  wish  we  could  be  sent  into  that  coun- 
try again.  It's  worth  all  the  rest  of  the  South  that  I  have  seen.. 
I  have  ii  negroes  in  my  company  now.  They  do  every  par- 
ticle of  the  dirty  work.  Two  women  among  them  do  the 
washing  for  the  company.  Three  babies  in  the  lot,  all  of 
which  have  run  barefooted  all  the  winter,  and  though  they 
have  also  run  at  the  nose,  etc.,  some,  seem  to  be  healthy  all 
the  time. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

March  5,  1863. 

You  certainly  should  not  complain  of  my  neglect,  in  writing 
no  more  than  once  in  ten  days  while  we  are  quartered  at  such 
an  intolerably  stupid  place  as  this,  for  there  really  have  not 
been  two  incidents  ocurred  worthy  of  notice,  since  we  pitched 
our  tents  on  this  ground.  Never  since  I  first  entered  the  ser- 
vice have  I  passed  two  months  in  which  there  seems  so  little 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  159 

worth  remembering  Nothing  but  a  dull  round  of  picket, 
fatigue,  and  camp  guard ;  no  alarms  and  no  enemy  within  a 
hundred  or  more  miles  of  us,  save  "citizen  guerrillas,"  and 
they  in  no  force  sufficient  to  scare  even  a  foraging  party.  In 
lieu  of  something  real  to  talk  of  and  speculate  about,  I  give 
you  the  following  items :  There  seems  this  morning  to  be  some 
movement  on  foot,  though  I  have  not  heard  a  word  of  the 
object  which  has  raised  such  a  commotion  in  our  usually  quiet 
military  circles.  I  only  know  that  all  the  mounted  men  sta- 
tioned here  have  this  morning  started  under  command  of  Col- 
onel Mizner,  with  an  ammunition  train  and  small  provision 
ditto.  Also  hear  that  Dodge  at  Corinth  and  the  command  out 
at  Trenton  have  set  all  their  cavalry  in  motion.  To  make  the 
case  a  little  stronger  I  will  add  that  one  of  Sullivan's  aids 
galloped  into  camp  half  an  hour  since,  and  required  at  short 
notice  the  number  of  rounds  of  ammunition  on  hand.  Well, 
I  expect  that  Van  Dorn  or  Morgan  is  on  our  side  of  the  Ten- 
nessee again.  It  can't  be  more  than  that.  I'd  give  a  month's 
pay  to  get  this  regiment  into  a  fight.  Don't  want  it  for  myself 
particularly,  but  think  it  would  do  the  regiment  a  great  deal 
of  good.  The  feeling  is  some  better  among  the  men,  but  there 
is  still  much  room  for  improvement.  Desertions  are  not  so 
numerous,  but  one  slips  off  occasionally.  Colonels  Kellogg 
and  Babcock  were  both  here  a  few  nights  ago.  Both  in 
good  health,  never  saw  them  looking  better  Don't  know  that 
anything  of  importance  was  connected  with  their  visit.  My 
own  health  continues  prime.  I  know  that  I  don't  fully  appre- 
ciate the  Lord's  goodness  to  me  in  granting  me  such  continued 
excellent  health,  but  I  assure  you  I  do  feel  grateful  to  the 
Power  that  rules  that  matter,  although  I  am  tolerably  regular 
in  my  habits  and  intemperate  in  none,  yet  I  know  I  am  very 
careless  of  myself  and  health  in  regard  to  dress,  sleeping  any 
and  everywhere,  etc.  General  Sullivan  will  visit  our  camp 
at  3  o'clock  to-day  to  look  into  its  sanitary  conditions,  and  in- 
spect our  policing.  The  health  of  the  regiment  is  much  im- 
proved. Two  months  more  and  we  will  be  veterans.  Another  of 


l6o  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

my  boys,  the  second,  died  in  General  Hospital  at  this  place 
yesterday.  James  Conyers,  is  his  name.  Formerly  worked  for 
Stipp. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

March  7,  1863. 

The  rumors  from  Vicksburg  in  the  Tribune  of  the  5th  are 
enough  to  make  one's  flesh  creep,  and  more  than  sufficient  to 
account  for  my  little  touch  of  the  blues  I  do  feel  to-night  as 
though  some  awful  calamity  had  befallen  our  army  somewhere. 
God  grant  it  may  not  be  so !  We  have  another  report  in  camp 
this  evening  that  is  not  calculated  to  enliven  me  much,  viz. ; 
"Lawler  and  some  four  companies  of  the  i8th  Illinois  Infantry 
have  been  captured  some  30  miles  east  of  town."  In  my  last 
I  spoke  of  an  expedition  having  started  out  to  look  for  some 
of  Van  Dorn's  forces  which  were  reported  as  being  on  the 
Tennessee  river,  looking  for  a  crossing  place.  We  don't  give 
credence  to  the  story  of  Lawler's  being  a  prisoner.  But  if  he 
is,  and  the  Vicksburg  rumor  be  true  and  we  have  been  re- 
pulsed at  Charleston,  and  were  whipped  at  Tullahoma,  I 
wouldn't  feel  half  as  badly  over  it  all  if  our  people  at  home 
would  quit  their  wicked  copperheadism  and  give  us  the  sup- 
port and  encouragement  they  should,  as  I  do  now  when  we 
are  worsted  in  even  a  cavalry  skirmish.  For  every  little  de- 
feat we  suffer  only  seems  to  make  them  so  much  bolder,  as  is 
shown  in  every  new  set  of  resolutions  which  reaches  us 
through  the  Times  and  the  Enquirer.  So  that  miserable  David- 
son really  published  the  lie  that  only  one  man  in  my  com- 
pany really  voted  for  the  resolutions.  Every  man  in  Com- 
pany G  voted  for  them  and  with  a  will,  too.  I  don't  have  any 
politics  in  my  company,  although  there  are  some  companies  in 
the  regiment  which  indulge  considerably  in  discussing  ques- 
tions of  State.  Above  all  things  I  dislike  to  hear  it.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  that  my  men  speak  well  of  me  in  their  letters.  I 
think  I  have  had  less  trouble  in  my  company  than  most  of 
the  officers.  Allen  Roodcape,  the  man  you  sent  your  letter 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  l6l 

of  the  1st  inst.  by,  got  here  to-night.  Poor  fellow,  he  will 
never  be  fit  for  a  soldier.  Davidson  has  gone  home  again.  The 
5oth  Indiana  went  out  yesterday  morning  to  reinforce  Law- 
ler,  so  we  will  again  be  on  picket  every  other  day.  When  it 
is  here,  once  in  three  days  is  the  rule.  I  was  out  on  the  worst 
post  last  night  and  it  rained  nearly  all  night.  It  thundered 
and  lightened  most  splendidly.  I  like  to  get  pretty  wet  once 
and  a  while  for  a  change.  It's  raining  hard  now.  I  go  on 
picket  again  to-morrow.  I'm  sleepy,  tired,  and  the  rain  is  com- 
ing through  my  tent  so  much  that  I  believe  I'll  get  into  bed. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Jackson,  Tenn., 

March  9,  1863. 

We  leave  here  again  in  the  morning  for  the  Grange.  Or- 
dered to  report  there  immediately  to  relieve  a  regiment,  the 
6th  Iowa,  which  is  going  down  the  river.  Am  right  glad  to 
be  again  on  the  way.  Can't  think  that  we  will  stay  there  long, 
though  I  ought  by  this  time  to  know  that  I  have  no  business 
thinking  anything  about  the  matter.  The  Fulton  Democrat 
came  into  our  camp  to-day,  and  that  correspondence  you  men- 
tioned in  your  last  has  raised  quite  a  stir.  The  writer  is  of 
course  denounced  as  a  contemptible  liar.  My  boys  this  evening 
got  up  a  little  paper  which  will  appear  in  the  Register  shortly 
(it  goes  in  the  morning  by  the  same  person  who  carries  this) 
and  some  fifty  of  them  signed  it,  all  there  were  in  camp.  My 
company  would  riddle  that  office  in  a  minute  if  they  could 
get  at  it.  Worked  all  day  yesterday,  Sunday,  covering  and 
chinking  a  picket  post,  and  will  not  get  another  day's  use  of 
it.  Have  so  much  to  do  that  I  see  I  will  have  to  stop  this 
letter  writing  business. 

Camp  io3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

March  15,  1863. 

I  have  just  returned  from  a  walk  to  and  inspection  of  the 
cemetery  belonging  to  this  nice  little  town.  There,  as  every- 
where, the  marks  of  the  "Vandal  Yankees"  are  visible.  The 


l62  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

fence  which  formerly  enclosed  the  whole  grounds  has  long 
since  vanished  in  thin  air,  after  fulfilling  its  mission,  boiling 
Yankee  coffee,  and  frying  Yankee  bacon.  Many  of  the  en- 
closures of  family  grounds  have  also  suffered  the  same  fate, 
and  others  are  broken  down  and  destroyed.  The  cemeteries 
here  are  full  of  evergreens,  hollies,  cedars,  and  dwarf  pines, 
and  rosebushes  and  flowers  of  all  kinds  are  arranged  in  most 
excellent  taste.  They  pride  themselves  more  on  the  homes  of 
their  dead  than  on  the  habitations  of  the  living.  I  can't  help 
thinking  that  their  dead  are  the  most  deserving  of  our  respect, 
though  our  soldiers  don't  waste  much  respect  on  either  the 
living  or  dead  chivalries.  Many  of  the  graves  have  ocean 
shells  scattered  over  them,  and  on  a  number  were  vases  in 
which  the  friends  deposit  boquets  in  the  flower  season.  The 
vases  have  suffered  some  at  the  hands  of  the  Yankees,  and 
the  names  of  Yanks  anxious  for  notoriety  are  penciled  thickly 
on  the  backs  of  marble  grave  stones.  Quite  a  variety  of 
flowers  can  now  be  found  here  in  bloom.  I  have  on  my  table 
some  peach  blossoms  and  one  apple  blossom,  the  first  of  the 
latter  I  have  seen.  Some  of  the  early  rosebushes  are  leaved 
out,  and  the  grass  is  up  enough  to  make  the  hillsides  look 
quite  springlike.  For  three  or  four  days  we  have  needed  no 
fire,  and  my  coat  now  hangs  on  the  forked  stick  which  answers 
for  a  hatrack  in  my  tent.  We  left  Jackson  the  morning  of 
the  nth,  all  pleased  beyond  expression,  to  get  away.  We 
were  from  8  a.  m.  until  n  o'clock  p.  m.  coming  here,  only  55 
miles.  The  engine  stalled  as  many  as  ten  times  on  up  grades, 
and  we  would  either  have  to  run  back  to  get  a  fresh  start,  or 
wait  until  a  train  came  along  whose  engine  could  help  us  out. 
We  lay  loosely  around  the  depot  until  daylight  and  then 
moved  out  to  our  present  camp,  which  is  one  of  the  best  I  have 
ever  seen,  a  nice,  high  ridge  covered  with  fine  old  forest 
trees.  This  town  has  been  most  shamefully  abused  since  we 
left  here  with  the  Grand  Army  last  December.  There  are  only 
about  three  houses  which  have  a  vestige  of  a  fence  left  around 
them.  All  the  once  beautiful  evergreens  look  as  though  three 
or  four  tornadoes  had  visited  them  and  many  of  the  finest 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  163 

houses  have  been  compelled  to  pay  as  tribute  to  the  camp  fires, 
piazzas  and  weatherboarding.  Not  a  chicken  is  left  to  crow 
or  cackle,  not  a  pig  to  squeal,  and  only  such  milch  cows  as 
were  composed  entirely  of  bone  and  cuticle.  The  7th  Cavalry 
is  here,  and  also  the  6th  Illinois  and  2d  Iowa.  There  is  only 
one  other  regiment  of  Infantry,  the  46th  Ohio.  It  does  the 
picket  duty  and  we  are  patroling  and  guarding  the  government 
stores.  The  duty  is  rather  lighter  than  it  was  in  Jackson,  and 
more  pleasant.  We  have  no  ground  to  complain  now,  and  the 
paymaster  is  all  we  want  to  make  us  perfectly  happy.  Two 
nights  before  we  left  Jackson  23  of  our  regiment  deserted,  17 
of  whom  were  out  of  Company  A,  one  of  the  Lewistown  com- 
panies. One  was  from  my  company,  the  first  deserter  I  have 
had.  He  was  detailed  from  Company  A  to  my  company  and 
was  besides  the  most  worthless  trifling  pup  in  the  army.  I  am 
accepting  the  disgrace  of  having  one  of  my  men  desert,  de- 
cidedly glad  to  be  rid  of  him.  Johnny  Wyckoff  came  down  a 
few  days  ago  and  after  being  in  camp  a  few  days  came  to 
me  and  said  he  had  his  parents'  permission,  so  I  got  the  col- 
onel to  swear  him  in.  We'll  make  a  drummer  of  him. 

I  suppose  you  will  have  seen  in  the  Register  before  this 
reaches  you  the  answer  my  company  made  to  that  Davidson's 
lie  in  regard  to  our  vote  on  the  resolutions.  I  did  not  see 
the  paper  until  it  was  ready  to  send  away.  I  think  copper- 
headism  is  not  worth  quite  the  premium  it  was  a  few  months 
since.  These  notes  from  the  army  should  have  some  weight 
with  the  gentlemen  that  run  the  copper  machine.  Do  you  see 
how  the  Southern  papers  cut  the  scoundrels?  That  does  me 
much  good,  though  'tis  mortifying  to  think  we  have  such  dirt- 
catchers  in  our  State. 

Well,  we  are  on  the  right  track  now,  and  a  few  more  weeks 
and  we  will  be  steaming  down  the  Mississippi,  I  think.  Our 
next  move  will  be  Memphis,  probably,  and  then,  ho!  for 
Vicksburg!  That  is  rare  good  news  from  the  Yazoo.  I  hope 
Ross  has  done  something  there.  My  health  is  excellent,  155 
pounds  of  ham  and  crackers,  for  that  is  all  I've  eaten  in  four 
months.  One  hundred  and  sixty  secesh  soldiers  lie  as  closely 


164  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

as  they  can  be  packed  in  this  cemetery.  Little  boards  with 
initials  cut  on  them  are  all  the  marks  their  graves  have.  Our 
boys  all  cut  on  a  large  board  with  full  name  of  regiment,  and 
residence,  at  the  head  of  their  graves.  I  send  you  some  blos- 
soms from  the  graveyard. 

Camp  1 03d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

March  19,  1863. 

Nine  whole  days  of  the  most  beautiful  sunshiny  weather 
imaginable.  Warm  as  our  home  June,  almost.  The  boys  bathe 
in  the  river  that  runs  near  our  camp.  The  little  birds  warble 
in  the  trees,  the  beautiful  young  ladies  walk  out  to  enjoy  the 
gentle  spring  breezes.  Seldom  now  do  we  hear  those  gloomy 
omens  of  cold  in  the  head,  viz. :  sneezes,  and  nature,  grand  old 
mother  nature,  almost  in  human  tongue  proclaims  this  balmy 
Southern  spring  atmosphere,  a  sure  cure  for  the  wheezes. 
Poetry,  my  dear,  is  the  soul  of — Sis,  I'm  getting  under  the 
influence  of  this  weather,  as  happy  as  a  clam,  and  as  lazy 
as  I  can  be,  that  is  when  I  have  nothing  to  do.  I  enjoy  it 
intensely.  Lieutenant  Nick's  resignation  has  been  accepted 
and  he  will  be  at  home  within  a  few  days.  I  send  this  by  him, 
probably.  I  came  pretty  near  having  a  fight  a  few  days  since. 
I  had  40  men  out  guarding  a  forage  train  of  some  125  wagons. 
There  was  also  about  50  cavalry.  We  stationed  the  cavalry  as 
pickets  while  the  teams  were  loading,  and  50  guerrillas  at- 
tacked and  drove  our  cavalry  in  (only  20  of  our  boys).  We 
got  ready  for  a  muss,  but  the  other  thirty  of  our  horsemen 
charged  secesh  and  scattered  them,  wounding  several  and 
capturing  two.  'Twas  certainly  censurable  in  our  post  com- 
mander's sending  so  light  a  guard  with  so  large  a  train,  which 
was  over  a  mile  long.  My  men  showed  the  right  spirit.  That 
is  the  nearest  to  a  fight  any  of  the  iO3d  have  yet  been. 

10  p.  m. — I  want  you  to  be  sure  and  get  "Harpers 
Weekly"  of  March  I4th,  and  read  that  army  story  about  the 
officers  captured  by  pretended  guerrillas.  It  is  all  true  and 
happened  near  Waterford,  Miss.,  while  we  were  there.  I 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  165 

know  the  two  women  well.  Don't  fail  to  get  the  paper  or 
you'll  miss  one  of  the  best  things  of  the  war.  I  have  just 
returned  from  a  whist  party.  Colonel  Wright,  Dr.  Morris 
and  Dr.  Shaw,  of  the  6th  Iowa,  and  no  liquor.  I  don't  drink 
any,  and  intend  to  continue  my  habits  in  that  respect.  Very 
few  of  our  officers  drink. 

Camp  at  Lagrange,  Tenn.,  March  29,  1863. 
All  perfectly  quiet  except  the  regular  picket  firing  every 
night  which  here  exceeds  anything  I  ever  before  met  in  my 
experience.  'Tis  singular,  too,  for  we  have  a  large  force  of 
cavalry  here  and  I  should  think  the  rascals  would  hardly  dare 
to  venture  so  near  them.  A  few  days  since  three  guerrillas 
came  up  to  one  of  our  cavalry  pickets,  and  while  he  was  ex- 
amining one  of  their  passes  the  others  watching  their  chance 
gobbled  him.  They  at  once  retreated.  The  sergeant  of  the 
picket  heard  a  little  noise  on  the  post  and  just  got  there  in 
time  to  see  the  secesh  disappear.  He  raised  the  alarm,  and  a 
party  followed  them  on  the  run  for  15  miles,  rescued  our  man, 
killed  three  and  captured  four  of  the  rascals,  Yesterday  some 
of  Richardson's  men  displaced  a  rail  on  the  track  ten  miles 
west  of  this  place,  and  captured  a  train.  They  got  away 
with  their  prisoners,  but  hadn't  time  to  destroy  the  cars. 
'Tisn't  safe  to  go  three  miles  from  camp  now,  although 
100  men  can  go  40  miles  in  any  direction  safely.  Do  you 
hear  of  any  deserters  returning  under  the  President's  pro- 
clamation? I  hope  to  the  Lord  that  my  black  sheep  won't 
come  back.  A  letter  came  for  him  to-day,  and  I  opened  it. 
'Twas  from  his  father  advising  him  to  get  out  of  this 
"Abolishun"  war  as  quickly  as  he  could.  His  "Pa  and  Ma" 
are  welcome  to  him.  Generals  Sullivan,  Denver  and  Ham- 
ilton have  all  left  this  country  within  the  last  few  days,  for 
Vicksburg.  General  Smith  commands  our  division  now. 
We  are  now  in  the  2d  Brigade,  ist  Division,  i6th  Army 
Corps.  The  colonel  of  the  6th  Iowa  is  the  ranking  officer 
in  the  brigade  but  he  is  now  sick,  so  Colonel  Wolcott  of 
the  46th  Ohio  now  runs.  Two  captains  of  the  46th  Ohio, 


l66  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

and  myself  have  been  constituted  by  Smith  a  "Board  of 
Survey,"  to  appraise  damages  committed  by  our  army  in 
the  property  of  loyal  citizens  here.  I  think  he  has  just 
done  it  to  get  the  citizens  off  his  hands.  Have  no  idea  that 
they  will  ever  be  allowed  anything  for  their  losses.  There 
were  three  bills,  each  over  $2,500.  sent  in  to  us  yesterday. 
I  hope  the  general  will  allow  us  to  drop  the  business  this 
week;  if  he  will  not,  however,  we  can  be  kept  busy  for 
almost  any  length  of  time.  By  Smith's  orders  the  reveille 
is  sounded  now  at  4  o'clock  a.  m.  and  the  men  appear  with 
arms  and  accoutrements,  and  form  line  of  battle.  This  is 
to  avoid  any  bad  consequnces  which  follow  a  Rebel  cav- 
alry dash  at  daylight,  if  we  should  be  found  in  our  tents. 
I  think  'tis  an  excellent  policy  to  be  always  ready  for  the 
enemy,  but  I  declare  I  dislike  this  early  rising  very  much. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

March  31,  1863. 

I  have  lost  my  negro,  Bob.  The  cavalry  have  been  in- 
dulging in  a  pretty  rough  fight  near  here,  and  I  am  engaged  on 
a  "Board  of  Survey"  which  will  occupy  me  for  some  days  to 
come.  There  is  also  a  good  quality  of  Scotch  ale  in  town,  no 
paper  collars,  and  a  great  deal  of  robbing  and  scoundrelism 
generally.  There  is  some  kind  of  a  scare  along  the  line,  and  the 
authorities  this  morning  shipped  to  Memphis  some  600  negroes, 
to  get  them  out  of  the  way  of  the  trouble.  I  made  my  Bob 
send  his  wife  and  children,  and  the  scamp,  when  it  came 
to  the  parting,  couldn't  resist  her  pleading,  and  so  he  joined 
the  party.  It  is  beautiful  to  see  such  an  exhibition  of  love 
and  constancy  in  the  brute  species.  All  of  these  Africans 
will  undoubtedly  be  sent  to  Illinois  or  somewhere  else. 
I  declare  I  don't  like  to  see  them  introduced  into  our  State, 
for  they  increase  like  rabbits.  I  believe  will  eventually 
outnumber  the  white  race,  in  any  country  in  which  they 
are  planted.  This  matter  of  slavery  is  an  awful  sin  and  I'm 
satisfied  debases  the  governing  race,  but  if  we  have  to  keep 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  l6/ 

these  negroes  in  the  country,  I  say  keep  them  as  slaves.  Take 
them  from  secesh  and  turn  them  over  to  Unionists,  but  don't 
free  them  in  America.  They  can't  stand  it.  These  negroes  don't 
average  the  ability  of  eight-year-old  white  children  in  taking 
care  of  themselves.  There  are  exceptions  of  course ;  arm  all  the 
latter  and  make  them  fight  Rebels.  They  will  probably  be  fit  for 
freedom  after  a  few  years  as  soldiers.  I  received  the  Register 
with  the  letters  from  our  regiment  and  Peterson's  dressing  of 
the  Democrat.  'Tis  jolly  to  throw  stones  at  that  paper.  You 
see  if  they  all  don't  get  their  fingers  burned  by  that  foul- 
mouthed  Davidson.  A  decent  man  has  no  business  talking 
against  him,  and  will  always  come  out  behind.  I  am  sure  that 
he  would  be  hung  if  he  would  venture  within  our  regimental 
lines.  One  of  my  boys  cut  a  great  caper  to-day.  He  is  an  old 
Dutchman,  and  has  been  aching  for  a  fight  ever  since  we  left 
Peoria.  He  has  told  me  several  times  that  he  had  a  mind  to 
run  off  and  go  down  to  Vicksburg  until  the  fight  is  over  and 
then  he  would  come  back  again.  This  morning  I  sent  him  to 
Lafayette  (near  Memphis)  as  guard  for  these  contrabands. 
The  old  fellow  went  on  to  Memphis  and  I  expect  will  be  at 
the  Vicksburg  battle.  I  know  that  he  won't  leave  me  for  good, 
though  this  act  makes  him  liable  to  punishment  as  a  deserter. 
He  is  a  funny  old  dog  but  an  excellent  soldier.  For  goodness 
sake  send  me  those  shirts.  All  I  have  sewed  together  wouldn't 
more  than  make  one  long  enough  to  reach  the  top  of  my  pants. 
Any  one  of  them  would  fly  out  over  my  coat  collar  if  I'd 
stoop  down. 

About  100  of  the  6th  Illinois  Cavalry  were  surprised  night 
before  last  some  20  or  30  miles  north  of  this  place.  The  first 
notice  they  had  of  the  enemy  was  a  volley  of  balls  and  shot 
among  them  as  they  lay  asleep  by  their  bivouac  fires,  about  12 
p.  m.  Eight  were  killed  and  about  25  or  30  wounded  by  the 
first  fire.  The  6th  got  up  and  went  into  the  Rebels  in  a  most 
gallant  manner,  killing  and  wounding  a  number  and  capturing 
a  major,  two  captains  and  some  others.  The  enemy  numbered 
some  400,  and  had  the  advantage  of  a  complete  surprise  and 
were  then  badly  whipped.  The  6th  boys  deserve  infinite  credit 


1 68  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

for  their  fighting,  and  their  colonel,  a  rope  for  his  carelessness. 
He  fought  like  a  hero,  though.  'Twas  Lieutenant  Loomis.  I 
don't  believe  that  Napoleon  had  any  better  cavalry  than  this 
brigade  here  for  fighting.  Second  Iowa,  6th  and  7th  Illinois  are 
the  regiments,  and  well  handled  they'd  whip  the  devil.  Just  im- 
agine the  details  of  the  above  fight,  and  if  you  can't  help  think- 
ing that  every  one  of  our  men  engaged  was  a  hero,  I'll  disown 
you.  I'll  tell  you  a  couple  of  items  to  show  you  how  the  war 
is  being  conducted  here  now.  A  train  was  captured  a  few 
miles  west  of  here  a  few  days  ago,  and  three  prisoners  taken, 
carried  off.  A  lieutenant  among  them  was  footsore  and  un- 
able to  keep  up ;  one  of  the  Rebels,  for  that  reason  alone,  shot 
him  through  the  head,  killing  him.  The  conductor  of  the  train 
surrendered,  but  a  Rebel  after  that  shot  at  him  three  times, 
when  the  conductor  concluding  it  was  death  anyway  attempted 
to  escape  and  succeeded.  This  morning  I  saw  a  crowd  across 
the  street  and  walked  over.  Some  secesh  prisoners  had  been 
brought  in,  among  them  the  conductor  .had  discovered  the  man 
who  tried  to  kill  him.  The  conductor  tried  hard  to  get  to  kill 
the  scoundrel,  but  the  guard  prevented  him.  I  tell  you,  if 
any  of  that  stripe  of  fellows  fall  into  my  hands,  you'll  have 
a  brother  who  has  been  concerned  in  a  hanging  scrape.  I'm 
as  decided  on  that  point  as  I  know  how  to  be.  I  don't  see  any 
prospect  of  an  immediate  fight  in  this  country.  There  is  no 
force  except  a  few  hundred  guerrillas  within  50  miles  of  us, 
but  General  Smith  uses  every  precaution.  We  are  all  under 
arms  an  hour  before  daylight,  and  the  picketing  is  very  sys- 
tematical and  good.  The  pickets  are,  however,  annoyed  more 
or  less  every  night.  These  citizens  are  bringing  immense  bills 
of  damages  before  our  board.  Three  came  in  to-day  amount- 
ing in  the  aggregate  to  $50,000,  and  more  I  think.  To-morrow 
General  Smith  closes  the  lines  at  this  post.  No  more  going 
in  or  out  by  citizens.  That  is  the  best  thing  that  has  hap- 
pened before  my  eyes  during  the  war.  The  town  has  been 
full  of  citizens  every  day  since  we  have  been  here,  and  of 
course  they  are  all  spies. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  169 

Board  of  Survey  Office,  Lagrange,  Term., 

April  6,  1863. 

I  was  in  Memphis  a  few  days  since.  It  is  quite  a  lovely 
town  and  quite  Northern-like  in  its  general  appearance. 
Many  of  the  blocks  would  pass  muster  creditably  in  Chicago, 
though  the  numerous  fires  it  has  furnished  for  the  edification 
of  the  "Vandal  Yankees"  have  somewhat  marred  its  streets.  I 
think  the  Fair  grounds  are  not  excelled  even  by  those  at  St. 
Louis,  and  we  certainly  have  none  in  Illinois  that  will  compare 
with  them  for  beauty,  location,  or  in  extent.  There  are  some 
most  beautiful  country  seats  on  the  M.  &  C.  R.  R.  scattered 
along  within  six  miles  of  the  city.  I  saw  but  one  park.  'Tis 
called  Court  Square  and  is  very  pretty.  'Tis  just  about  the 
size  of  our  Canton  square  and  filled  with  forest  trees  and 
evergreens.  I  think  as  many  as  fifty  squirrels  live  in  the  park. 
They  are  very  tame  and  playful.  The  city  is  full  of  butternut 
refugees  from  North  Mississippi  and  some  from  Arkansas, 
but  I  could  find  none  from  the  vicinity  of  Madison.  The  M.  & 
C.  R.  R.  is  almost  classical.  From  Memphis  to  Decatur,  Ala. 
(that  is  as  much  as  I've  seen  of  it)  you  are  rarely  out  of  sight 
of  fortifications,  and  on  almost  every  mile,  lay  the  remains  of 
a  burned  train  of  cars.  Hardly  a  bridge,  culbert  or  cattle 
guard  but  has  been  burned  from  three  to  ten  times  and  rebuilt 
as  often.  Night  before  last  I  had  just  retired  (12  o'clock) 
when  an  order  came  to  have  the  regiment  in  line  and  ready 
for  action  at  a  moment's  notice.  We  got  up,  stacked  arms 
on  the  color  line,  and — went  to  bed  again.  Heard  in  the  morn- 
ing that  2,500  Rebel  cavalry  caused  the  scare.  We  still  con- 
tinue to  guard  against  daybreak  surprises  by  rising  at  4  a.  m., 
and  standing  at  "guard  against  secesh"  until  daylight.  All  of 
the  vigilance  I  like.  I  would  hate  to  be  surprised  and  gob- 
bled without  having  half  a  chance.  Am  still  on  Board  of 
Survey. 


I/O  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

April  14,  1863. 

I  am  brigadier  officer  of  the  day  again,  and  of  course  it  is  a 
rainy,  muddy,  disagreeable  day.  Visiting  the  pickets  occupied 
my  whole  forenoon  and  I  rode  through  a  constant  rain.  You 
may  consider  it  an  evidence  of  perverted  taste,  or  maybe  de- 
moralization, or  possibly  of  untruthfulness  in  me,  if  I  say  that 
I  enjoy  being  on  duty  in  the  rain,  but  it  is  a  fact.  I  don't  like 
to  lie  in  bed,  or  sit  by  the  fire,  and  think  of  floundering  about 
in  the  mud  and  being  soaked  to  the  skin,  but  once  out  of  doors, 
let  it  rain  and  wind  ever  so  hard  I  enjoy  it.  At  my  request 
the  general  relieved  me  from  that  "Board  of  Survey,"  and  I 
am  again  with  my  company.  If  I  could  but  get  15  days'  ex- 
emption from  duty,  I  could  finish  up  the  drilling  I  wish  to 
give  them.  Since  we  left  Peoria  we  have  been  driven  so  much 
with  duty  that  drilling  has  been  next  to  impossible.  The 
health  and  spirits  of  the  regiment  are  now  excellent.  Such  a 
body  of  soldiers  as  this  now  is  cannot  be  considered  otherwise 
than  as  a  credit  to  even  immaculate  Fulton  County  and  New 
Jersey,  two  Edens  without  even  one  snake.  That  is  one  point  in 
which  the  ninteenth  century  beats  Adam's  time.  Rumors 
of  another  move  down  the  Mississippi  Central  R.  R.  are  flying 
now.  I  credit  them.  Within  20  days  we  will  again  be  al- 
lowed to  strike  our  tents.  I'm  getting  well  over  my  Vicks- 
burg  fever  and  wishing  considerably  in  regard  to  this  land 
movement.  Before  I  write  again  the  cavalry,  some  six  to  ten 
regiments,  will  have  started  on  a  raid  of  considerable  magni- 
tude. You  can  see  from  the  way  I  write  that  I  know  nothing 
of  what  is  in  prospect,  but  from  hints  dropped  feel  certain 
that  a  move  with  force  will  be  made  from  here  at  once.  Any- 
thing to  end  this  horrible  inactivity.  Every  newspaper  I  read 
raises  my  disgust  ten  per  cent.  I'm  sure  I'll  become  a  chronic 
swearer  if  it  lasts  this  summer  through.  I  suppose  that  you 
know  by  this  time  whether  the  Charleston  attack  is  a  failure 
or  not.  I'm  not  much  interested  in  that.  It  will  cause  no  loss 
of  sleep  on  my  part  if  we  fail  there,  only  I'd  like  to  hear  of 
the  town  being  burned.  I  believe  there  are  more  chances  for 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  171 

a  general  to  immortalize  himself,  working  southward  from  this 
line  of  road  as  a  base,  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  field.  But 
where  is  the  general? 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

April  24,  '63. 

We  have  just  returned  from  the  hardest  and  yet  by  far  the 
most  pleasant  scout  in  which  I  have  up  to  this  time  partici- 
pated. We  started  from  here  one  week  ago  to-day,  Friday, 
and  my  birthday  (how  old  I  am  getting)  on  the  cars.  We 
were  four  and  a  half  regiments  of  infantry,  one  six-gun  bat- 
tery and  no  cavalry.  At  3  o'clock  p.  m.  we  were  within  seven 
miles  of  Holly  Springs  and  found  two  bridges  destroyed.  We 
worked  that  p.  m.  and  night  and  finished  rebuilding  the  bridges 
by  daylight  the  i8th.  We  had  only  moved  two  miles  further 
when  we  reached  another  bridge  which  we  found  lying  around 
loose  in  the  bed  of  the  stream.  The  general  concluded  to 
abandon  the  railroad  at  this  point,  so  we  took  up  the  line  of 
march.  We  passed  through  Holly  Springs  at  12  m.  I  don't 
believe  that  I  saw  a  human  face  in  the  town.  A  more  com- 
plete scene  of  desolation  cannot  be  imagined.  We  bivouacked 
at  dark,  at  Lumpkin's  mill,  only  one  mile  from  Waterford.  At 
9  p.  m.  a  dreadful  wind  and  rain  storm  commenced  and  con- 
tinued until  i.  We  were  on  cleared  ground,  without  tents,  and 
well  fixed  to  take  a  good  large  share  of  both  the  wind  and 
water.  I'm  positive  that  I  got  my  full  portion.  'Twas  dark 
as  dark  could  be,  but  by  the  lightning  flashes,  we  could  see 
the  sticks  and  brush  with  which  we  fed  our  fire,  and  then  we 
would  feel  through  the  mud  in  the  right  direction.  Nearly 
half  the  time  we  had  to  hold  our  rubber  blankets  over  the  fire 
to  keep  the  rain  from  pelting  it  out.  After  the  storm  had  sub- 
sided I  laid  down  on  a  log  with  my  face  to  the  stars,  bracing 
myself  with  one  foot  on  each  side  of  my  bed.  I  awoke  within 
an  hour  to  find  that  a  little  extra  rain  on  which  I  had  not 
counted,  had  wet  me  to  the  skin.  That  ended  my  sleeping  for 
that  night. 


172  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Nineteenth. — We  went  down  to  Waterford  and  then  turned 
westward,  which  course  we  held  until  nearly  to  Chulahoma. 
When  we  again  turned  southward  and  reached  the  Tallahatchie 
river  at  "Wyatt,"  where  we  camped  for  the  night.  Our  regi- 
ment was  on  picket  that  night  and  an  awful  cold  night  it  was. 
We  marched  through  deep,  yellow  mud  the  iQth  nearly  all  day, 
but  I  don't  know  that  I  marched  any  harder  for  it.  Up  at 
3  o'clock  and  started  at  4,  the  2Oth,  and  marched  25  miles 
southwest,  along  the  right  bank  of  the  Tallahatchie.  Our  ra- 
tions were  out  by  this  time  and  we  were  living  off  the  "citi- 
zens." The  quartermaster  with  a  squad  of  men  he  had  mounted 
on  contraband  horses  and  mules  would  visit  the  chivalric  plant- 
ers, take  their  wagons,  load  them  with  their  hams,  meal  and 
flour,  and  when  we  would  halt  for  dinner  or  supper,  issue  the 
chivalries'  eatables  to  us  poor  miserable  Yankees.  While  the 
quartermaster  attended  to  these  principal  items  the  "boys" 
would  levy  on  the  chickens,  etc.,  including  milk  and  cornbread. 
Gen.  W.  S.  Smith  commanded  and  the  butternuts  failed  to  get 
much  satisfaction  from  him.  The  first  night  out  a  "citizen" 
came  to  him  and  complained  that  the  soldiers  had  killed  nine 
of  his  hogs,  and  asked  what  he  should  do  to  get  his  pay.  "My 
dear  sir,"  said  the  general,  "you'll  have  to  go  to  the  boys  about 
this  matter,  they  will  arrange  it  satisfactorily  to  you,  I  have  no 
doubt."  "Citizen  didn't  go  to  the  boys  though.  Another  one 
came  to  ask  pay  for  his  hams.  "Your  hams,  why  everything 
in  this  Mississippi  belongs  to  these  boys,  a  great  mistake,  that 
of  your's,  sir."  The  men  soon  found  out  what  kind  of  a  gen- 
eral they  had  and  whenever  a  butternut  would  appear  among 
us  they  would  greet  him  with  a  perfect  storm  of  shouts  of, 
"here's  your  ham,  here's  your  chicken,"  etc.,  and  often  a 
shower  of  bones  of  hams  or  beef  would  accompany  the  salute. 
On  the  2Oth  the  general  decided  to  make  some  cavalry,  and 
on  the  2 1st  at  night  we  had  nearly  400  men  on  "pressed" 
horses  and  mules.  These  soldiers  would  just  mount  anything 
that  had  four  legs,  from  a  ram  to  an  elephant,  and  the  falls 
that  some  of  the  wild  mules  gave  the  boys  would  have  made 
any  man  laugh  that  had  life  enough  in  him  to  breathe.  How 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  173 

the  women  would  beg  for  a  favorite  horse !  I  saw  as  many  as 
five  women  wringing  their  hands  and  crying  around  a  little 
cream-colored  mare  on  whose  head  a  soldier  was  arranging  a 
rope  bridle  as  coolly  as  though  he  was  only  going  to  lead  her 
to  water.  You  could  have  heard  those  women  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  begging  that  cuss  of  an  icicle  to  leave  the  pony,  and  he 
paid  no  more  attention  to  them  than  he  would  have  done  to 
so  many  little  chickens.  An  officer  made  the  man  leave  the 
animal  and  I  think  the  women  took  her  in  the  house.  I  saw 
two  girls,  one  of  them  perfectly  lovely,  begging  for  a  pair  of 
mules  and  a  wagon  a  quartermaster  was  taking  from  their 
place.  They  pushed  themselves  in  the  way  so  much  that  the 
men  could  hardly  hitch  the  animals  to  the  wagon.  But  we  had 
to  take  that  team  to  haul  our  provisions.  The  night  of  the 
2oth  at  8  o'clock,  the  general  called  all  the  officers  up  to  his 
quarters  and  told  us  that  we  would  have  a  fight  with  General 
Chalmers  before  breakfast  the  next  morning.  He  ordered  all 
the  fires  put  out  immediately  and  gave  us  our  instructions  for 
defense  in  case  we  should  be  attacked  during  the  night.  After 
he  was  through  I,  with  eight  other  officers,  was  notified  that 
we  should  sit  at  once  as  a  court  martial  to  try  the  adjutant  of 
the  99th  Indiana,  for  straggling  and  conduct  unbecoming  an 
officer  and  a  gentleman  in  taking  from  a  house  sundry  silver 
spoons,  forks,  etc.  I'll  tell  you  our  sentence  after  it  is  ap- 
proved. That  kept  us  until  1 1  o'clock.  At  i  o'clock  a.  m.  we 
were  wakened  without  bugles  or  drums,  stood  under  arms, 
without  fires  until  3,  and  then  marched  northwest.  At  this 
point  we  were  only  eight  or  nine  miles  from  Panola,  Miss. 
We  marched  along  through  Sardis  on  the  Grenada  and  Mem- 
phis R.  R.  and  northwest  about  15  miles  to  some  cross  roads, 
which  we  reached  just  20  minutes  after  the  Rebels  had  left. 
'Twas  useless  for  our  infantry  to  follow  their  mounted  men, 
so  we  turned  homeward  with  75  miles  before  us.  Just  look 
over  and  see  how  much  sleep  I  got  in  the  last  four  nights. 
We  marched  through  the  most  delightful  country  from  the 
time  we  left  Wyatt.  I  think  it  will  almost  compare  favorably 
with  Illinois.  We  saw  thousands  of  acres  of  wheat  headed 


174  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

out  which  will  be  ready  to  harvest  by  the  I5th  or  2oth  of 
May.  Some  of  the  rye  was  as  tall  as  I  am.  Peaches  as  large 
as  filberts  and  other  vegetation  in  proportion.  There  seemed 
to  be  a  plenty  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  but  I  can  assure  you 
that  eatables  are  not  so  plentiful  now  as  they  were  before  we 
visited  the  dear  brethren.  We  reached  the  railroad  at  Colliers- 
ville  last  night.  That  is  26  miles  west,  making  in  all  some  175 
miles  in  eight  days.  The  guerrillas  fired  on  one  column  a  num- 
ber of  times  but  hurt  no  one  until  yesterday,  when  they  killed 
two  of  the  6th  Iowa,  which  regiment  was  on  another  road  from 
ours,  the  latter  part  of  the  trip.  We  took  only  some  20  priso- 
ners but  about  400  horses  and  mules.  They  captured  about  a 
dozen  of  stragglers  from  us  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  two  from 
my  company,  Wilson  Gray  and  Stephen  Hudson.  The  last 
three  days  we  marched,  every  time  that  we  would  halt  ten  min- 
utes one-fourth  of  the  men  would  go  to  sleep.  You  should 
have  seen  the  boys  make  bread  after  their  crackers  gave  out; 
some  lived  on  mush  and  meal,  others  baked  cornbread  in  corn- 
shucks,  some  would  mix  the  dough  and  roll  it  on  a  knotty 
stick  and  bake  it  over  the  fire.  It  was  altogether  lots  of  fun 
and  I  wouldn't  have  missed  the  trip  for  anything. 

Camp  iO3d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

May  7,  1863. 

Isn't  the  Grierson  "raid"  glorious?  Two  other  expedi- 
tions started  from  this  point  and  were  gone  respectively 
five  and  ten  days  each.  Although  they  made  good  long 
marches  and  took  about  40  prisoners  and  500  animals, 
still  we  forget  them  in  looking  after  Grierson.  We  have 
the  Rebels  well  scared  in  this  country.  Five  thousand  men 
could  sweep  everything  north  of  Jackson,  if  they  could 
only  hold  it.  Papers  to-day  give  us  the  news  on  the  Rap- 
pahannock  up  to  the  4th  of  May,  which  includes  the  route 
of  Siegel's  Dutchmen  and  leaves  Hooker  in  what  seems  to 
me  a  close  place.  Well,  he  can  at  worst  but  fail.  What  a 
consolation.  General  Oglesby  wrote  to  Hurlbut  to  detail 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  175 

me  on  his  staff  General  Hurlbut  referred  the  letter 
through  division  and  brigade  headquarters  for  the  letter  of 
my  company  and  on  its  return  to  Hurlbut,  General  Smith 
objected  to  my  being  detailed  out  of  his  command.  He 
thought  Oglesby  might  find  his  staff  in  his  own  command. 
All  right!  I  would  like  to  have  been  with  Old  Dick 
though.  I'm  on  a  General  Court  Martial  now.  Confound 
the  Court  Martials. 

Camp  1 03d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

May  13,  1863. 

I  have  been  on  a  General  Court  Martial  for  the  last 
ten  days,  and  we  will  not,  in  all  probability,  adjourn  for 
some  weeks  yet.  We  tried  Governor  Yates'  brother.  He 
is  Adjutant  of  the  6th  Illinois  Cavalry.  Another  little  re- 
verse on  the  Rappahannock.  All  right!  My  faith  is  still 
large — in  the  army,  but  the  commanders  and  citizens  can 
be  improved.  We  think  that  Grant  is  going  to  beat  them 
all  yet.  But  his  army  is  more  responsible  for  his  good 
fortune  than  himself.  Do  you  notice  that  one  of  our 
"raids"  missed  fire?  Straight  into  Georgia,  I  mean.  Grier- 
son's  and  Stoneman's  make  up  for  all  the  rest  though.  We 
are  constantly  active  here,  in  fact  our  troops  move  so 
much  that  I  am  unable  to  keep  the  run  of  even  our  brigade. 

Camp  I03d  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

May  21,  1863. 

I  am  still  sitting  on  this  Court  Martial.  We  may  finish 
up  this  week.  Everything  is  quiet  here.  To-day  three  or 
four  regiments  have  gone  out  with  seven  days'  rations.  All 
mounted.  Rumors  reach  us  daily  that  Grant  is  in  a  criti- 
cal situation;  but  I  can't  so  see  it.  He  has  enough  men 
to  annihilate  in  a  field  fight  all  the  Rebels  south  of  this  line. 
We  know  that  he  has  captured  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  has 
now  turned  his  attention  to  Vicksburg. 


1/6  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Camp  103*1  Illinois  Infantry,  Lagrange,  Tenn., 

May  29,  1863. 

'Tis  becoming  fiendishly  warm  in  this  latitude  again; 
but  the  delightfully  cool  nights  of  which  I  wrote  you  so 
much  last  summer,  are  also  here  again,  and  amply  repay 
one  for  the  feverish  days.  We  have  moved  our  camp 
from  the  town  to  a  grove  on  a  hill  about  midway  between 
Grand  Junction  and  Lagrange  It  is  one  of  the  best  defen- 
sive positions  that  I  know  of.  It  seems  to  me  much  better 
than  Corinth,  or  Columbus,  Ky.,  or  New  Madrid.  Our 
negro  troops  are  fortifying  it.  I  suppose  that  no  one  antici- 
pates danger  from  the  Confederates,  on  this  line,  any  more; 
but  I  can  understand  that  the  stronger  we  make  our  line, 
the  less  object  the  secesh  will  have  in  visiting  us.  We 
are  raising  a  regiment  of  blacks  here.  Captain  Boynton, 
who  has  an  Illinois  Battery,  is  to  be  the  colonel.  He 
looks  like  a  good  man,  but  I  think  that  a  better  could  have 
been  selected.  I  am  afraid  they  are  not  commissioning  the 
right  material  for  line  officers.  Two  are  to  be  taken  from 
our  regiment,  and  if  we  have  two  men  who  are  good  for 
nothing  under  the  sun,  I  believe  them  to  be  the  ones.  I 
know  that  first  rate  men  have  applied  for  these  places,  and  why 
they  give  them  to  such  worthless  fellows,  I  can't  see.  I 
think  poor  Sambo  should  be  allowed  a  fair  chance,  and 
that  he  certainly  will  never  get  under  worthless  officers. 
I  suppose  that  the  regiment  organization  here  numbers 
some  800  now,  and  will  soon  be  full.  I  don't  know  whether 
I  wrote  it  to  you  or  not,  but  a  year  ago  I  sincerely  thought 
that  if  the  negro  was  called  into  this  war  as  a  fighting  charac- 
ter, I  would  get  out  of  it  as  quickly  as  I  could,  honor- 
ably. I  am  by  no  means  an  enthusiast  over  the  negro 
soldiers  yet.  I  would  rather  fight  the  war  out  without 
arming  them.  Would  rather  be  a  private  in  a  regiment  of 
whites  than  an  officer  of  negroes ;  but  I  don't  pretend  to 
set  up  my  voice  against  what  our  President  says  or  does ; 
and  will  cheerfully  go  down  the  Mississippi  and  forage  for 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  177 

mules,  horses  and  negroes  and  put  muskets  in  the  hand's 
of  the  latter.  I  have  no  trouble  in  believing  that  all  these 
Rebels  should  lose  every  slave  they  possess ;  and  I  experi- 
ence some  pleasure  in  taking  them  when  ordered  to.  Captain 
Bishop  with  some  25  men  of  Companies  A  and  G  did  a 
splendid  thing  last  Thursday  night.  He  surprised  Saul- 
street  and  20  of  his  gang,  about  1 1 130  p.  m.,  killed  three, 
wounded  and  captured  five  and  six  sound  prisoners,  with- 
out losing  one  of  our  men  or  getting  one  scratched.  Three 
of  the  wounded  guerrillas  have  since  died.  Saulstreet  him- 
self escaped.  Over  at  Henderson  Station  on  the  M.  &  O. 
R.  R.  lives  a  Miss  Sally  Jones  who  once,  when  some  Rebels 
set  fire  to  a  bridge  near  there,  watched  them  from  the  brush 
until  they  left  and  then  extinguished  the  fire.  She  is  a 
case.  Lieutenant  Mattison  saw  her  there  a  few  days  since. 
The  day  before  he  saw  her  she  had  been  out  scouring  over 
the  country  horseback,  dressed  in  boys'  clothes,  with  her 
brother.  She  often  goes  out  with  the  soldiers  scouting, 
and  the  boys  think  the  world  of  her.  Any  of  them  would 
kill  a  man  who  would  dare  insult  her.  She  is,  withal,  a 
good  girl.  Not  educated,  but  of  fine  feelings  and  very 
pleasing  manners.  Memphis  paper  has  just  arrived.  Not 
a  word  from  Vicksburg  but  a  two  column  list  of  wounded. 
I  expect  that  you  have  celebrated  the  capture  of  that  town, 
long  before  this.  All  right,  you  ought  to  enjoy  yourselves 
a  little  once  in  a  while.  There  are  now  to  my  certain 
knowledge,  20,000  troops  on  the  railroad  between  Memphis 
and  Corinth,  and  there  are  not  1,000  armed  Rebels  within 
loo  miles  of  any  point  on  the  road.  Our  presence  at  Vicks- 
burg could  not  help  deciding  the  day  in  our  favor.  It 
makes  a  man  who  knows  nothing  about  the  matter,  sick 
to  think  of  the  way  we  manage  our  army.  Hold  100,000  in 
reserve  and  fight  with  10,000. 

Middleton,  Tenn.,  June  4,  1863. 

We  made  another  little  change  yesterday.    The  regiment  is 
now  guarding  the  M.  C.  &  R.  R.  from  Grand  Junction  to 


178  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Pocahontas.  We  are  in  detachments  of  two  companies  each. 
H  Company  is  with  mine.  We  marched  23  miles  to  make  this 
point  yesterday,  and  arrived  at  10  o'clock  p.  m.  We  only  made 
four  miles  after  dark,  and  the  road  was  so  horrible  and  the 
woods  so  thick  we  had  much  difficulty  in  finding  it  at  all.  We 
occupy  the  depot  and  have  strengthened  it  by  a  revetment  of 
fascines,  so  that  we  consider  ourselves  perfectly  safe  if  at- 
tacked by  even  ten  times  our  number  of  infantry.  Artillery 
would  scoop  us.  This  little  town  had  when  the  war  com- 
menced some  40  houses;  now  it  boasts  of  not  more  than  12 
or  15,  though  a  number  of  extra  chimneys  add  so  much  to  the 
picturesqueness  of  the  scene,  that  I  can  excuse  the  houses  for 
"going  out."  This  country  has  literally  been  scraped,  swept 
and  scoured.  The  guerrillas  first  ran  the  Union  men  off,  and 
then  when  we  came  here  the  Unionists  returned,  took  up  arms 
and  drove  out  all  the  secesh  families.  You  can  hear  of  mur- 
ders being  committed  in  every  neighborhood  by  either  one 
party  or  the  other.  It  will  take  at  least  8,000  years  for  this 
people  alone  to  make  this  country  what  Illinois  is  now,  on  the 
average,  and  at  least  1,000  to  bring  it  up  to  the  standard  of 
poor,  God-forsaken  Lewistown  township.  I  have  never  been 
so  comfortably  situated  in  the  army,  except  when  with  Colonel 
Mizner,  as  I  am  now.  The  boys  have  rigged  up  nice  bunks 
in  the  depot  wareroom,  which  are  dry  and  comfortable,  have 
good  water,  light  guard  duty,  and  the  citizens  bring  in  to  us 
their  extra  vegetables,  etc.,  and  trade  them  for  our  surplus  ra- 
tions. The  boys  give  one  pound  of  coffee  for  two  dozen  eggs, 
or  two  pounds  of  butter;  sell  them  bacon  for  15  cents  per 
pound,  etc.  Two  very  fine  elderly  ladies  pleading  for  a  horse 
to-day,  told  stories  of  tremendous  length  about  how  "Union" 
their  husbands  were  prior  to  their  deaths.  I'd  almost  rather 
give  up  my  head  than  have  two  women  of  their  age  begging 
of  me  for  anything  that  way.  I  have  the  telegraph  room  for 
myself  and  have  fixed  it  up  nicely.  I  know  well  enough  that 
it  is  too  good  to  last  long  and  shall  resign  it  without  a  sigh, 
and  if  ordered  to  Vicksburg,  with  a  cheer.  I  fixed  up  our  last 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  179 

camp  as  well  as  I  could  in  hopes  that  my  pains  would  bring  us 
marching  orders,  and  we  got  them,  but  the  direction  was 
wrong.  This  is  so  much  better  that  it  must  surely  win.  May- 
be you  don't  know  that  there  is  a  superstition  (almost)  among 
soldiers  that  arranging  a  camp  particularly  nice  and  comfort- 
able brings  marching  orders. 


l8o  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 


IV. 

June  7,  1863  to  April  28,  1864.  On  General  Oglesby's  staff.  Almost 
reconciled  to  negro  soldiers.  Bringing  the  raiding  business  home. 
Back  to  his  regiment  at  his  own  request.  Sees  Vicksburg  at  last. 
Story  of  a  rich  Rebel  planter  and  his  wife.  Leading  the  advance 
to  Chattanooga.  Foraging  and  bee  hunting  on  the  way.  Quadroon 
family  of  a  white  planter.  Mounting  infantry  on  "borrowed" 
horses.  Criticising  the  war  strategy.  Sheep  stealer  as  well  as 
horse  thief,  under  orders.  Regiment  dismounted  and  back  in 
permanent  camp.  Discountenancing  army  deviltry.  Veterans 
unanimously  re-enlisting.  Roll  call  of  his  distinguished  command- 
ing officers.  Regimental  marching  races.  Ill  feeling  between  the 
respective  army  corps.  Monotony  of  inactive  camp  life. 

Headquarters,  Left  Wing  i6th  Army  Corps, 
Lagrange,  Term., 

June  7,  1863. 

We  had  occupied  our  very  pleasant  quarters  but  two 
days  when  an  order  came  for  us  to  pack  up  for  Vicksburg. 
Received  the  order  at  dark  and  by  daylight  the  next  morn- 
ing we  were  in  Lagrange.  General  Oglesby  had  moved 
his  headquarters  here  and  he  gobbled  me  without  a  mo- 
ment's warning.  The  regiment  moved  on  for  the  doomed 
city  yesterday  and  left  me.  Now  don't  write  me  any  of 
your  "glads,"  for  I'm  almost  demoralized  over  the  matter. 
Am  uneasy  as  the  d — .  The  idea  of  leaving  just  when  I 
know  that  the  regiment  is  moving  on  to  a  fight  doesn't 
look  at  all  right ;  but  then  I'm  where  I'd  rather  be  than  at 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  l8l 

any  other  place  in  the  army,  and  suppose  that  other 
chances  will  be  offered  for  fighting.  If  the  general  had  en- 
tirely recovered  from  his  wound,  I  am  sure  that  we  would 
leave  this  railroad  guarding  business  to  some  one  of  less 
importance  in  the  field,  but  he  is  hardly  able  to  stand  an 
active  campaign  yet.  Sam  Caldwell,  Major  Waite  and  my- 
self compose  the  staff  now  and  it  is  so  pleasant.  It's 
"Sam"  "Waite"  "Charley"  and  "general."  I  have  been 
east  on  the  railroad  to-day  looking  at  the  defenses  of  the 
road.  'Twill  be  completed  to  Corinth  by  Wednesday  next, 
when  the  road  to  Jackson  and  from  here  to  Corinth  will 
be  abandoned.  We've  had  another  scare  here  to-day. 
Some  800  Rebels  within  a  few  miles  of  us.  One  of  the  cars 
on  which  our  regiment  was  loaded  flew  the  track  yester- 
day, and  one  man  was  killed  and  several  hurt.  None  of 
my  company,  or  that  you  knew. 

Lagrange,  Tenn.,  June  19,  1863. 

The  general  and  Sam  went  to  Memphis  yesterday  to 
visit  General  Hurlbut,  and  the  major  and  I  have  charge 
of  the  machine.  The  cavalry  under  command  of  Colonel 
Mizner  went  south  last  Tuesday.  They  have  a  good 
sized  object  in  view,  and  if  they  succeed  will  be  gone 
some  ten  days,  though  they  may  possibly  be  back  by 
Wednesday  next.  They  will  operate  between  Panola  and 
Grenada.  Another  mounted  expedition  has  gone  from  Cor- 
inth to  Okolona,  a  third  from  Corinth  to  Pikeville,  Ala., 
and  a  fourth  also  from  Corinth  to  Jackson,  Tenn.,  which 
place  has,  since  we  evacuated  it,  been  occupied  by  some 
Rebel  cavalry  (infantry  also  reported)  from  the  east  of 
the  Tennessee  river.  All  of  this  cavalry  (of  course  ex- 
cepting the  Rebel)  belongs  to  General  Oglesby's  com- 
mand. You  see  he  has  it  in  motion.  Deserters  are 
constantly  coming  in  from  Johnston's  army;  and  if  we 
can  believe  their  stories,  and  the  information  gained  from 
the  corps  of  spies  employed  along  this  line,  Grant's  rear 
is  not  in  as  much  danger  as  our  southern  brethren 


l82  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

would  fain  have  us  think.  Johnston's  army  is  not  in 
the  best  condition  imaginable;  and  it  is  far  from  being 
as  strong  as  he  would  like  it.  Have  no  idea  that  he  can 
march  thirty-five  thousand  men.  Grant  must  have  an 
enormous  army.  How  awful  it  would  be  if  the  yellow 
fever  would  visit  his  camps.  I  suppose  you  know  that  my 
regiment  is  at  Snyder's  Bluff.  I  think  that  is  on  the  Yazoo, 
near  Haines.  Don't  you  see  some  more  of  my  extraor- 
dinary fortune  in  being  detached  just  as  the  regiment  is 
ordered  to  where  there  is  a  prospect  of  hard  knocks.  We 
were  all  loaded  on  the  cars  ready  to  move,  when  Sam  came 
down  to  the  train  and  took  me.  The  regiment  then  left  im- 
mediately. There  is  a  possible  chance  now  of  the  general's 
being  ordered  to  Vicksburg;  but  I've  given  up  all  hope  of 
my  getting  there.  We  are  having  a  great  deal  of  trouble 
with  the  citizens  here.  A  great  many  secesh  citizens  ask  to  be 
exempted  from  taking  the  oath,  because  they  have  rendered 
service  to  our  army.  This  one  gave  a  quart  of  buttermilk  to  a 
sick  soldier,  another  donated  an  onion  to  the  hospital, 
another  allowed  a  sick  officer  to  stay  in  his  house  for  only 
$2.  per  day,  etc.  A  number  of  the  claims  really  have  some 
point  to  them,  and  although  'tis  against  my  theory,  I  really 
can't  help  pitying  some  of  them.  We  had  a  sad  accident 
last  week  near  this  post.  General  Hurlbut  ordered  a  small  train 
with  a  guard  of  some  60  men  to  be  sent  north  on  the  rail- 
road to  repair  the  telegraph  line.  Twelve  miles  only  from 
here  the  train  broke  through  a  little  bridge  over  a  deep  but 
narrow  "swash"  and  killed  five  and  wounded  ten  of  the 
party.  An  examination  showed  that  the  bridge  had  been 
burned  the  night  before,  and  afterward  the  rails  had  been 
propped  up  only  strongly  enough  to  keep  their  places 
when  no  weight  was  upon  them.  'Twas  a  fiendish,  cow- 
ardly act,  but  of  course  committed  by  men  whose  business 
is  robbery  and  murder,  and  who  have  no  connection  with 
the  army. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  183 

Jackson,  Tenn.,  June  26,  1863. 

Such  splendid  weather — nice,  fresh  breezes  ruffling  the  leaves 
on  the  trees  all  the  day  long — and  plenty  of  rain  to  keep  the 
dust  in  order.  I  was  up  early  this  morning  and  the  mocking 
birds  were  playing  a  reveille,  from  whose  sweetness  bees  might 
make  honey.  There  are  hundreds  of  these  birds  living  in  a 
grove  near  our  headquarters,  and  I  can't  find  time  and  ease 
enough  to  enjoy  their  concerts  as  I  want  to. 

A  flag  of  truce  came  to  our  lines  yesterday  on  the  Holly 
Springs  road.  The  general  sent  me  out  to  receive  it.  A  lieu- 
tenant and  eight  men,  all  rough,  dirty  fellows,  made  the  party. 
They  were  not  very  communicative.  They  brought  a  small 
mail  and  a  trifling  communication  about  prisoners.  They  be- 
longed to  Colonel  Morton's  2d  Tennessee  (Rebel)  Cavalry, 
and  were  sent  by  General  Ruggles.  The  general  has  promised 
to  let  me  take  a  flag  to  Okolona.  Don't  know  when  I  shall  go. 
I  do  think  that  General  Oglesby  is  the  very  ideal  of  a  chivalric, 
honorable,  gallant,  modest,  high-spirited,  dignified,  practical, 
common-sense,  gentleman.  Nobody  can  help  loving  him.  He 
hates  a  particle  of  meanness  as  much  as  he  does  a  bushel.  If 
we  were  only  doing  something  more  active  I  should  be  per- 
fectly happy.  As  it  is,  I  think  seriously  of  asking  to  be  sent 
back  to  my  regiment.  The  general  will  not  be  able  for  any 
more  field  work,  and  I  hardly  think  it  right  manly  in  me  to 
stay  back  here  with  a  railroad  guard,  when  there  is  so  much 
to  be  done  in  front,  and  I  am  so  strong  and  able  to  bear  the 
field  duty.  You  should  hear  the  general  talk.  There  is  such 
a  big  rolling  river  of  fun  and  humor  in  his  conversation. 
Such  a  hearty  honest  laugh ;  I  know  his  heart  is  big  enough  to 
hold  a  regiment.  I  believe  he  thinks  as  much  of  the  old  8th 
as  of  his  family.  When  he  has  been  speaking  of  the  gallant 
conduct  of  the  8th  at  Donaldson  and  Shiloh,  I  have  seen  his 
face  flush  up  and  it  seemed  as  though  his  heart  jumped  up  to 
his  throat.  I  was  over  to  the  negro  camps  yesterday  and  have 
seen  a  good  deal  of  them  since  I  last  wrote  you.  An  honest 
confession  is  good  for  the  soul.  I  never  thought  I  would,  but 
I  am  getting  strongly  in  favor  of  arming  them,  and  am  be- 


184  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

coming  so  blind  that  I  can't  see  why  they  will  not  make  sol- 
diers. How  queer.  A  year  ago  last  January  I  didn't  like  to 
hear  anything  of  emancipation.  Last  fall  accepted  confiscation 
of  Rebel's  negroes  quietly.  In  January  took  to  emancipation 
readily,  and  now  believe  in  arming  the  negroes.  The  only  ob- 
jection I  have  to  it  is  a  matter  of  pride.  I  almost  begin  to 
think  of  applying  for  a  position  in  a  regiment  myself.  What 
would  you  think  of  it?  We  had  quite  an  alarm  two  or  three 
nights  since.  Nobody  hurt,  but  some  Tennesseans  badly  scared. 
I  guess  I  will  go  to  Memphis  to-morrow  to  look  for  a  spy  who 
has  been  along  our  line,  and  whom  we  think  is  now  in  Mem- 
phis. Well,  I  must  go  and  see  the  provost  marshal  about  dis- 
posing of  some  prisoners.  First,  I'll  tell  you  what  three  sol- 
diers did  the  night  we  had  the  alarm  here.  Colonel  Mizner, 
with  1,000  of  our  cavalry,  had  been  on  a  scout  nine  days,  and 
that  night  we  heard  that  he  was  within  15  miles  of  here  on 
his  return.  We  heard  of  the  enemy  about  I  a.  m.  and  imme- 
diately sent  these  three  men  (volunteers  for  the  purpose)  to  no- 
tify Colonel  Mizner  and  have  him  march  all  night.  They  reached 
the  little  town,  Mt.  Pleasant,  without  incident  on  the  way. 
There  was  a  lot  of  guerrillas  camped  in  town  that  night,  and 
their  guard  hailed  the  boys  and  fired.  Our  men,  only  three, 
charged  with  a  yell  and  scared  the  whole  party  out  of  town. 
They  couldn't  find  the  colonel  and  started  to  return.  When 
two  miles  on  the  way  back,  at  a  turn  in  the  road,  they  met 
Mitchell's  Rebel  company  (60  men).  Our  boys  yelled,  "here 
they  are,  come  on  boys,"  and  charged,  firing  their  revolvers. 
They  brought  one  man  down,  and  made  the  next  fall  back 
some  200  yards  where  they  commenced  forming  line.  Our 
fellows  then  took  to  the  woods,  got  around  them  and  back  to 
camp  at  6:30  a.  m. 

Lagrange,  Tenn.,  July  I,  1863. 

Everything  moves  quietly  here.  No  more  alarms  or  any- 
thing else  to  "bust"  the  confounded  monotony  of  garrison  life. 
A  guerrilla  was  brought  in  yesterday  who  has  murdered  at 
least  one  of  our  soldiers,  and  an  unarmed  one  at  that.  He  rests 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  185 

comfortably  now  with  a  nice  lot  of  jewelry  on  his  arms  and 
legs,  and  a  good  heavy  chain  connecting  his  precious  body  to 
his  bed,  a  not  very  soft  plank.  He  is  a  worse  fellow  than  we 
have  in  Illinois  to  my  knowledge.  We  have  two  regiments 
of  negroes  here  now,  great  big,  stout,  hardy  fellows,  and  they 
really  look  right  well  in  their  uniforms.  I  heard  from  old 
Company  "E"  of  the  8th  this  morning.  They  have  had  two 
men  killed  and  five  wounded  before  Vicksburg.  There  are 
only  15  left  now.  Wonder  where  my  bones  would  have  been  if 
I  had  stayed  with  the  boys. 

A  woman  from  Holly  Springs  is  up  to-day  with  the  state- 
ment that  Johnston  is  marching  on  Memphis,  and  proposes  to 
have  possession  thereof  within  ten  days.  Good  for  Joseph! 
We  had  a  confirmation  of  the  report  of  the  taking  of  Port 
Hudson  yesterday,  but  nothing  further  to-day.  It  don't  go 
down  here  without  a  good  deal  of  forcing. 

Isn't  it  music  to  hear  those  Pennsylvania  fellers  howl?  I 
almost  wish  that  Lee  would  cut  the  levee  of  Lake  Ontario, 
and  let  the  water  over  that  country.  Don't  tell  father  and 
mother.  If  Lee  don't  wake  them  up  to  a  sense  of  their  misery, 
he  isn't  the  man  that  Price  is.  If  ever  Price  reaches  Illinois, 
and  he  swears  he's  going  to  do  it  some  day,  you  can  reckon 
on  seeing  a  smoke,  sure !  Don't  you  folks  feel  a  little  blue 
over  Lee's  move?  Kind  o'  as  though  you  wish  you  hadn't 
gone  and  done  it!  Never  mind,  you'll  get  used  to  it.  The 
first  raid  isn't  a  sample.  Wait  until  general  Rebel  somebody, 
establishes  his  headquarters  in  Canton,  and  you've  all  taken 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Confederacy.  Imagine  yourself 
going  up  to  the  headquarters  with  your  oath  in  your  hand 
and  tears  in  your  eyes  to  ask  the  general  to  please  keep  the 
soldiers  from  tearing  the  boards  off  your  house  (for  bunks), 
or  asking  for  something  to  eat  out  of  his  commissary  depart- 
ment, and  then  blubber  right  out  and  tell  him  that  the  soldiers 
broke  open  your  trunks  and  took  your  clothes  and  what  little 
money  you  had,  and  you  don't  know  what  in  the  world  you'll 
do.  Many  of  these  people  are  in  this  condition,  and  I  hear 


i86  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

a  hundred  of  them  tell  the  story  every  week.  Every  man  in 
Illinois  ought  to  die  on  the  border  rather  than  allow  an  in- 
vading force  to  march  into  our  State. 

Decatur,  Ills.,  August  26,  1863. 

I  write  for  the  purpose  of  informing  you  that  I  am  re- 
covering from  that  miserable  attack  of  the  jaundice.  You  can 
imagine  nothing  more  disagreeable  than  a  visitation  thereof. 
Am  enjoying  myself  first  rate.  Am  sure  I  will  find  a  letter 
from  you  in  the  office.  Haven't  been  there  for  five  days.  Am 
nearly  white  once  more. 

Decatur,  111.,  August  31,  1863. 

The  general  stopped  me  here  and  insists  on  keeping 
me  for  a  time.  Major  Wait's  resignation,  which  was  for- 
warded the  same  time  the  general  sent  his,  has  been  ac- 
cepted, and  I  now  being  the  only  member  of  the  staff  in 
the  north,  he  wants  me  to  stay  with  him,  for  should  he 
be  ordered  away  for  any  purpose,  he  would  want  some  at- 
tendance. I  would  enjoy  myself  very  much  but  for  my 
biliousness.  Appetite  poor,  miserable,  sickish  demoralized 
stomach,  and  am  becoming  yellow  as  saffron.  My 
duties  are  not  very  heavy.  The  general  has  some  very 
fine  riding  horses,  and  I  devote  some  little  time  to  exer- 
cising them.  Mrs.  Miner  has  very  kindly  undertaken  to 
introduce  me  into  society  here,  which,  from  what  I  have 
seen  I  judge  to  be  very  excellent.  I  went  with  the  general 
to  a  union  meeting  at  Charleston,  about  100  miles  from 
here,  near  the  crossing  of  the  Terre  Haute  and  Alton  and 
Chicago  Branch  of  the  Central.  The  general  made  a  big 
speech,  and  I  made  a  good  many  small  ones.  We  stopped 
with  Col.  Tom  Marshall  while  there.  Had  a  big  dance  at 
night  in  which  I  participated  heavily,  staying  with  them 
until  the  very  last  moment.  Train  left  at  2  a.  m.  Never 
will  forget  that  dance  in  the  world. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  187 

Decatur,  111.,  September  6,  1863. 

Girls,  fun,  etc.,  have  lost  their  charm,  and  I've  made  up 
my  mind  to  go  back  to  my  regiment.  Reasons,  as  follows : 
Firstly,  the  general's  health  as  affected  by  his  wound  is 
no  better,  and  I  think  it  doubtful  whether  he  goes  back. 
Second,  if  he  does  go  to  the  army  again  he  will  be  fit  for 
nothing  but  "Post  Duty."  Will  not  be  able  for  the  field. 
Third,  I  don't  like  garrison  work,  and  would  rather  be 
with  my  regiment  in  the  field  than  with  him  in  garrison. 
Fourth,  my  expenses  are  three  times  as  heavy  with  him  as 
with  my  regiment ;  and  fifth  and  lastly,  I  wouldn't,  on  any 
account,  miss  this  fall  campaign,  and  by  staying  with  him 
I  will  be  apt  to.  I  presented  the  matter  to  the  general  in 
about  that  shape  and  urged  him  to  let  me  slide  immedi- 
ately. He  agreed  to  do  so,  telling  me  that  he  will  not  go 
back  unless  they  force  him  to. 

Vicksburg,  September  18,  1863. 

Left  Cairo  last  Sabbath  and  arrived  here  this  (Friday) 
morning.  Am  feeling  splendidly.  Better  than  for  three 
months.  Intended  visiting  you  before  going  to  my  regiment, 
but  know  you'll  excuse  me.  Address  me  4th  Division  I5th 
Army  Corps. 

Camp  at  Messenger's  Ferry,  Big  Black  River,  Miss., 

September  22,  1863. 

I  wrote  you  a  few  lines  from  Vicksburg  on  the  i8th  inst.  to 
notify  you  that  I  had  escaped  the  perils  of  navigation  (sand- 
bar and  guerillas)  and  of  my  safe  arrival.  I  had  a  delightful 
trip  down  the  river.  A  splendid  boat,  gentlemanly  officers, 
not  too  many  passengers,  and  beautiful  weather.  Major  Gen- 
eral Tuttle  and  wife  and  Mrs.  General  Grant  were  of  our  num- 
ber. I  think  Mrs.  Grant  a  model  lady.  She  has  seen  not  over 
thirty  years,  medium  size,  healthy  blonde  complexion,  brown 
hair,  blue  eyes  (cross-eyed)  and  has  a  pretty  hand.  She 
dresses  very  plainly,  and  busied  herself  knitting  during  nearly 
the  whole  trip.  Believe  her  worthy  of  the  general.  Vicks- 


l88  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

burg  is  a  miserable  hole  and  was  never  anything  better.  A 
number  of  houses  have  been  burned  by  our  artillery  firing, 
but  altogether  the  town  has  suffered  less  than  any  secesh  vil- 
lage I  have  seen  at  the  hands  of  our  forces.  But  very  few 
buildings  escaped  being  marked  by  our  shot  or  shell,  but  such 
damage  is  easily  repaired  in  most  cases.  No  business  whatever 
doing  in  the  town,  except  issuing  orders  by  generals,  obeying 
them  by  soldiers  and  the  chawing  of  commissary  stores  with- 
out price  by  the  ragged  citizen  population.  I  was  of  the  im- 
pression that  I  saw  some  rough  country  in  Tishomingo  County, 
Miss.,  and  in  the  mountains  in  north  Alabama,  but  after  a  day's 
ride  in  the  vicinity  of  Vicksburg  and  to  our  present  camp,  I 
find  I  was  mistaken.  They  call  it  level  here  when  the  surface 
presents  no  greater  angles  than  45  degrees.  I  found  only  one 
officer  to  a  company  present  here,  and  the  colonel  is  also  on 
leave.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  sickness  but  the  health  of  the 
regiment  now  is  improving.  We  have  lost  a  large  number  by 
disease  since  I  left  the  regiment.  Anyone  who  saw  us  in 
Peoria  would  open  wide  his  eyes  at  the  length  of  our  line  now, 
and  think  we'd  surely  passed  a  dozen  battles.  The  greater 
part  of  the  material  this  regiment  is  made  of  should  never 
have  been  sent  into  the  field.  The  consolation  is  that  these 
folks  would  all  have  to  die  sometime,  and  they  ought  to  be 
glad  to  get  rid  of  their  sickly  lives,  and  get  credit  as  patriots 
for  the  sacrifice.  We  are  now  in  the  2d  Brigade  4th  Division 
1 5th  Army  Corps,  having  been  transferred  from  the  i6th 
Army  Corps.  We  are  camped  on  the  bluffs  of  Black  river, 
which  we  picket.  Our  camp  is  the  finest  one  I  ever  was  in. 
There  are  two  large  magnolias,  three  white  beeches,  and  a  half 
dozen  holly  trees  around  my  tent.  I  think  the  magnolia  the 
finest  looking  tree  I  ever  saw.  Many  of  the  trees  are  orna- 
mented with  Spanish  moss,  which,  hanging  from  the  branches 
in  long  and  graceful  rolls,  adds  very  much  to  the  beauty  of  the 
forest.  Another  little  item  I  cannot  help  mentioning  is  the 
"chigger,"  a  little  red  insect  much  smaller  than  a  pin-head, 
that  buries  itself  in  the  skin  and  stings  worse  than  a  mosquito 
bite.  Squirrels  skip  around  in  the  trees  in  camp,  and  coons, 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  189 

owls,  etc.,  make  music  for  us  nights.  Capt.  Gus  Smith  when 
on  picket  several  nights,  saw  a  bear  (so  he  swears)  and  shot 
at  it  several  times.  The  enemy's  cavalry  are  maneuvering 
around  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  constantly  making  it  un- 
safe for  our  boys  to  straggle  much  over  there.  Sabbath  even- 
ing we,  our  brigade,  moved  out  across  the  river  about  four 
miles  to  meet  a  party  of  Rebels,  but  as  usual  they  were  not 
there.  We  ate  our  supper  while  waiting  for  them  and  returned 
by  moonlight,  8  o'oclock  p.  m.  We've  had  a  brigade  review 
and  a  short  brigade  drill,  and  I've  eaten  a  very  hearty  supper 
since  finishing  the  last  period.  I  feel  perfectly  well  once  more. 
Much  better  than  I  did  any  day  while  North.  Did  I  tell  you 
that  I  had  the  ague  for  a  week  or  so  before  I  started  South? 
My  continued  ill  health  more  than  anything  else  is  what 
started  me  off  for  the  regiment  so  suddenly.  The  general 
wanted  me  to  stay  until  after  the  fair,  but  I  wouldn't  have  done 
it  for  a  horse.  Altogether,  I  feel  very  happy  over  getting  back 
to  my  company.  The  boys  profess  being  very  glad  to  have  me 
with  them  again,  and  I  assure  you  that  such  compliments  do 
me  good.  I  didn't  know  that  I  could  take  as  much  interest  in 
any  strange  humans  as  I  feel  in  these  men  of  my  company. 
While  I  was  in  Central  Illinois  I  wished  many  times  that  this 
war  was  over,  and  that  I  could  settle  in  one  of  the  many  good 
points  I  saw  for  trade.  I  know  that  I  could  do  well  selling 
goods  in  any  of  a  half  dozen  towns  that  I  visited  there,  and 
even  in  Decatur.  But  I  know  I  could  not  be  satisfied  out  of 
the  army  while  this  war  lasts.  I  am  glad  to  be  out  of  staff 
duty  for  several  reasons.  One  of  the  most  important  is  that 
it  costs  all  my  pay  to  keep  me.  I  did  not  make  a  cent  while 
with  the  general,  and  have  only  two  months'  pay  due  me  now. 
It  has  been  very  cold  here.  Night  before  last  I  had  six 
blankets  over  me,  last  night  five  and  will  use  four  to-night. 
'Twas  quite  warm  this  p.  m.,  but  the  nights  are  very  cold. 
We  will  have  hot  weather  yet.  There  is  a  great  deal  of 
ague  here. 


IQO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Messengers  Ferry,  Big  Black  River,  Miss., 

September  26,  1863. 

Pass  in  your  congratulations.  We  are  under  marching 
orders  for  Chattanooga.  Our  whole  corps  is  going.  We 
steam  o'er  sand-bars  to  Memphis,  and  then  will  probably 
"foot  it,"  though  may  go  by  cars  as  far  as  Corinth.  From 
Memphis  the  march  will  be  some  450  miles.  We  will  pass 
through  my  favorite  portion  of  Dixie,  the  Tennessee  valley 
in  North  Alabama.  We  are  all  much  rejoiced  at  the  idea 
of  leaving  a  country  where  there  is  no  enemy  save  mos- 
quitoes and  chiggers  and  ague.  We  keep  up  the  form  of 
picketing;  but  I  find  it  decidedly  uninteresting  to  do  such 
duty,  knowing  that  coons  and  owls  will  cause  all  our 
alarms.  Aside  from  knowing  there  is  no  enemy  near,  the 
picket  duty  is  delightful  here.  I  have  seldom  passed  a 
more  pleasant  night  than  the  one  before  last.  The  moon 
is  about  full,  and  our  picket  line  (the  post  under  my 
charge),  about  one  and  a  half  miles  long,  runs  along  the 
river  bank  through  most  beautiful  little  magnolia  and 
beech  groves  and  open  grass  plots.  But  a  knowledge  that 
there  are  guerrillas  in  the  country  is  necessary  to  a  thor- 
ough appreciation  of  picket  duty.  We  are  camped  on  the 
Messenger  plantation.  The  owner  thereof  was  very 
wealthy.  Worth  $1,000,000.00.  Had  some  500  negroes,  etc. 
He  armed  and  uniformed  a  secesh  regiment  at  his  own 
expense,  and  was,  and  is  yet  probably,  a  Rebel  to  the  core. 
He  fled  at  the  approach  of  our  troops,  leaving  his  wife  to 
manage  for  him.  General  Osterhaus  called  on  her  and 
asked  her  if  she  desired  Federal  protection.  She  said  she 
didn't  ask  anything  of  him  or  any  of  his  crew.  The  general 
told  her  she  had  just  an  hour  to  select  and  load  two  wagons 
with  kitchen  furniture  and  start  across  the  river.  She 
moved,  was  gone  about  a  month,  begged  permission  to 
return  and  is  now  eating  government  rations,  which  she 
is  too  poor  to  pay  for. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  19! 

Messengers  Ferry,  Big  Black  River,  Miss., 

September  26,  1863. 

When  we  assembled  at  regimental  headquarters  this  p. 
m.,  the  colonel  informed  us  that  our  corps  was  ordered  to 
report  to  Rosecrans,  at  Chattanooga,  and  that  we  should 
prepare  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice. 

September  27. 

We  sent  our  sick,  nearly  100  in  number,  by  wagon  to 
the  Big  Black  railroad  depot,  six  miles,  where  they  took 
the  cars  for  Vicksburg.  They  will  there  await  our  arrival. 
I  have  now  but  31  men  in  my  company  in  camp.  Ten 
months  ago  I  marched  72  men  from  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  to 
Lagrange.  Not  one  has  been  lost  by  the  bullet,  and  to- 
day a  difference  of  41  in  the  duty  list.  A  rumor  prevails 
to-day  that  Rosecrans  has  had  a  severe  battle  and  has  been 
defeated.  It  is  impossible  to  learn  or  hear  anything  in 
this  place  until  the  date  alone  would  make  it  uninteresting. 
Blair's  division  moved  into  Vicksburg  from  the  depot 
to-day  to  embark.  Osterhaus'  division  is  already  on  its 
way  up  the  river.  In  the  evening,  with  Captains  Bishop 
and  Smith  and  Lieutenant  Johnson,  had  a  rather  dull 
game  of  "California  Seven  Up."  All  kinds  of  rumors  to- 
day about  the  fight  in  northern  Georgia.  Have  no  hope 
of  ever  hearing  the  truth  of  the  matter  in  camp.  We  are 
now  12  days  behind  in  papers.  The  3d  brigade  of  our 
division  and  some  cavalry  started,  with  three  days  rations, 
on  a  scout  across  the  river  to-day.  Suppose  the  object 
is  to  cover  our  move  to  Vicksburg,  though  I  don't  believe 
there  are  100  armed  Rebels  this  side  of  the  Alabama  line. 
The  soldiers  of  our  division  have  been  having  some  high 
fun  for  the  last  two  days.  Orders  are  very  strict  against 
firing  in  camp,  but  the  men  found  out  they  could  get  up 
some  artificial  firing  by  putting  green  can  in  the  fire.  The 
steam  from  the  sap  generating  between  the  joints  will 
make  an  explosion  equal  to  a  gun  fired.  And  they  got  up 


192  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

some  artillery  firing  by  putting  canteens  half  full  of  water, 
stopping  them  tightly  and  then  putting  them  in  the  flames. 
They  did  this  just  to  bore  the  officers  who  are  held  responsible 
by  the  general  for  all  firing.  To-night  the  general  has 
ordered  all  the  officers  of  the  4Oth  Illinois  to  patrol  the 
camp  the  whole  night.  This,  of  course,  tickles  the  men 
hugely,  and  from  their  beds  in  their  tents  they  have  been 
talking  over  the  duties  of  a  sentry  for  the  benefit  of  their 
officer's  ears.  The  devilment  that  soldiers  cannot  contrive 
must  be  unearthly.  To-day  some  of  the  6th  Iowa  filled 
an  oyster  can  half  full  of  powder,  set  a  slow  train  to  it 
and  planted  it  in  the  ground,  they  then  set  a  cracker  box 
over  it  and  got  a  negro  to  dancing  on  the  box  A  coal  was 
then  touched  to  the  train  and  the  "nigger"  was  blown  full 
20  feet.  He  landed,  fortunately,  without  injury,  but  so 
badly  scared  that  he  was  crazy  for  an  hour.  In  the  even- 
ing called  on  Captain  Pinney  of  the  46th  Ohio,  and  spent 
a  very  pleasant  evening.  He  says  that  Vallandigham  will 
poll  about  ten  votes  in  their  regiment;  but  that  his  disci- 
ples dare  not  open  their  mouths  to  advocate  his  cause. 
He  says  the  loyal  men  would  kill  them  sure  if  they  dared 
to  boast  of  their  allegiance  to  a  traitor. 

September  28,  1863. 

By  the  exercise  of  a  little  strategy,  this  morning  I 
caught  a  chameleon  who  had  ventured  out  of  a  hollow 
tree  to  gobble  some  flies  for  his  breakfast.  I  enveloped 
him  or  rather  lassoed  him  with  a  pocket  handkerchief  and 
then  slipped  him  into  a  bottle.  He  only  showed  two  of 
his  colors,  changing  from  a  very  pretty  snuff  color  to  a 
beautiful  light  green. 

Clear  Creek,  Miss.,  September  29,  p.  m. 
As     we    were    studying     tactics      together,      preparatory 
to     a     battalion     drill,     our     brigade     commander    at    pre- 
cisely   2:15    p.    m.,    came    into    the    colonel's    tent    where 
we  were,  asked  the  colonel  if  he  was  ready  to  move  immedi- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  193 

ately.  The  colonel  replied  that  he  was,  and  he  then  told  us 
to  be  ready  to  start  at  3  o'clock,  and  that  the  regiment  first 
on  the  brigade  parade  ground,  ready  to  move,  should  have 
the  advance.  In  just  twenty  minutes  we  had  struck  tents, 
packed  knaps,  loaded  wagons  and  formed  line,  everybody  in 
the  best  of  spirits  at  the  thought  of  leaving  and  joining  Rose- 
crans.  We  beat  the  other  regiments  and  therefore  got  the  ad- 
vance, which  was  quite  an  object  as  the  dust  lays,  when  it 
don't  fly,  several  inches  deep.  I  let  my  little  chameleon  (I  wish 
I  could  have  sent  him  home)  back  into  the  tree  before  we 
started.  Cogswell's  battery  attempted  to  pass  us  on  the  march, 
but  our  two  advanced  companies  fixed  bayonets,  and  by  a  few 
motions  stopped  the  proceeding.  Cogswell  got  very  wrathy, 
but  when  Colonel  Wright  proposed  to  shoot  him  if  he  didn't 
cool  down,  he  became  calmer  and  moved  to  the  rear  "promptly." 
The  dust  has  been  awful.  Never  saw  it  worse,  except  in  a 
march  from  Bolivar  to  Lagrange,  Tenn.,  a  year  ago.  We 
bivouacked  at  9  o'clock  p.  m.,  nine  miles  from  camp.  I  stood 
the  march  splendidly. 

September  29th. 

Had  just  got  asleep  last  night  when  it  commenced 
raining.  I  dressed  myself  (that  means  put  on  my 
boots)  gathered  up  my  oil-cloth  and  blanket  and  made  for  a 
bushy-topped  tree.  I  sat  down  to  lean  back  against  the  tree  and 
I  think  one  of  the  liveliest  motions  I  ever  made  was  getting  up 
immediately  afterward.  The  tree  was  a  chinquapin,  and  I  had 
sat  down  on  a  number  of  the  burs,  which  are  much  like  those 
of  the  chestnut.  After  quite  a  search  I  secured  two  small 
rails,  and  balancing  myself  on  them  I  slept  soundly  until  rev- 
eille at  2 130  a.  m.  It  has  rained  all  night,  but  in  a  small  way, 
and  just  enough  to  make  marching  pleasant.  We  made  Vicks- 
burg  by  7  a.  m.,  the  rain  falling  all  the  time.  In  fact,  it  has 
rained  steadily  up  to  this  hour,  n  p.  m.  After  a  deal  of  hard 
work  we  are  on  the  steamboat  Diana,  which  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
rine brigade.  The  whole  division  is  loaded  on  15  steamboats 
and  we  start  for  Memphis  in  the  morning.  I  forgot  to  mention  s. 
queer  tree  that  I  noticed  at  last  night's  camp.  They  say  it  is 


194  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

the  cabbage  tree  or  mock  pineapple.  The  leaves  were  many 
of  them  fully  thirty  inches  long,  giving  the  tree  a  tropical  ap- 
pearance. Saw  some  of  the  8th  Illinois  boys.  The  regiment 
is  not  as  healthy  as  it  should  be. 

Steamboat  Diana,  70  miles  from  Vicksburg, 

September  30,  1863. 

We  left  Vicksburg  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  fleet  at  8 
o'clock  this  a.  m.  I  am  officer  of  the  day  and  have  found  a 
good  deal  to  do.  Our  regiment  and  the  4Oth  Illinois  are  both 
on  board  and  we  are  somewhat  crowded.  Gen.  W.  S.  Smith 
and  our  division  commander  reached  Vicksburg  just  before  we 
left.  The  boat  he  came  down  on,  the  Robert  CampKell,  was 
burned  about  50  miles  above  Vicksburg,  and  from  30  to  60 
persons  lost.  The  general  and  Colonel  Hicks,  our  brigade 
commander,  both  escaped  by  swimming.  General  Smith  says 
that  a  number  of  boats  have  been  burned  within  two  weeks  by 
Rebel  incendiaries  and  agents,  the  object  being,  by  destroying 
our  transportation,  to  make  it  impossible  to  reinforce  Rosecrans 
from  Grant's  army.  General  Smith  is  not  yet  with  us,  and 
we  think  he  will  not  follow  if  we  go  to  Chattanooga,  for  he 
was  once  under  Rosecrans,  and  they  had  some  serious  diffi- 
culty. If  he  does  retain  command  of  the  division  we  will  prob- 
ably stop  at  some  point  on  the  M.  and  C.  railroad  again.  We 
all  think  a  great  deal  of  Smith,  but  would  ten  times  rather  lose 
him  than  have  to,  on  his  account,  again  go  to  guarding  rail- 
roads. It  has  rained  steadily  for  the  last  48  hours,  not  very 
fast,  but  everything  uncovered  is  thoroughly  soaked.  My  com- 
pany was  first  stationed  on  the  berth  deck,  but  when  steam  was 
raised  it  because  so  hot  that  I  took  them  up  on  the  hurricane 
deck  where,  though  they  have  to  stand  the  rain,  it  will  cer- 
tainly be  better  for  them  than  breathing  the  hot  steam. 

Griffin's  Landing,  Miss.,  October  I,  1863. 
Clear  as  a  bell  this  morning ;  about  8  a.  m.  we  reached  Grif- 
fin's landing   125  miles  above  Vicksburg.     Said  Griffin  has 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  195 

some  2,000  cords  of  wood  ricked  on  his  plantation,  some  500 
of  which  we  propose  to  gobble  for  the  use  of  our  transportation. 
We  found  here  a  part  of  Blair's  division  which  left  Vicksburg 
over  a  week  ago.  Found  the  55th  Illinois,  8th  Missouri  and 
13  regiments  among  other  regiments.  They  finished  wooding 
and  left  about  3  p.  m. 

October  2,  1863. 

Our  foraging  party  brought  in  forty  mules,  fifty 
cattle,  beef,  twenty-one  hogs  and  thirty  sheep.  They 
report  a  beautiful,  rich  country,  and  abundance  of  eat- 
ables within  five  miles  of  the  landing.  Went  with  party  of 
bee  hunters  in  the  p.  m.  They  had  found  the  tree  in  the  fore- 
noon. They  took  two  bucketsful  of  most  beautiful  white 
comb.  One  of  my  sergeants  in  an  hour  to-day  found  three 
trees,  and  by  dark  had  taken  the  honey  from  all  of  them.  We 
are  to  stay  here  and  haul  wood  for  the  whole  division  (damn). 

Griffin's  Landing,  October  3,  1863. 

To-day  one  of  the  pilots  and  engineers  induced  the  colonel 
and  me  go  with  them  over  to  the  Arkansas  side.  We  went 
over  in  the  yawl,  and  after  a  walk  of  three  miles  came  to  a 
most  delightful  place  owned  by  Worthington.  His  son  and 
daughter,  bright  quadroons,  did  the  honors  of  the  house  in  his 
absence.  They  are  the  best  educated  persons  of  color  I  ever 
met.  The  young  man  was  educated  in  France  and  the  young 
woman  in  Oberlin,  Ohio.  She  played  the  piano  quite  well 
and  sings  beautifully.  A  negro  lady  is  something  of  a  novelty, 
and  if  I  did  not  conduct  myself  exactly  right  in  her  presence, 
I  think  I  am  somewhat  excusable,  for  I  could  see  the  others 
were  equally  puzzled.  She  is  well  informed,  sensible  and  talks 
with  animation,  using  very  pretty  language.  She  furnished 
us  with  peach  brandy  and  honey,  a  gentle  mixture  of  which 
produced  a  very  nice  toddy.  We  then  moved  on  some  three 
miles  further  to  the  Bass  plantation,  where  we  found  two  of 
the  regular  snuff-dipping,  swearing,  Southern  women,  of  the 
low,  white-trash  family.  Had  lots  of  fun  with  them.  Got  a 


196  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

couple  of  dozen  chickens  and  a  bushel  of  sweet  potatoes  of 
them  and  started  back.  Our  road  lay  along  a  lake  and  at  any 
minute  we  could  get  a  shot  at  cranes,  geese,  ducks  or  turtles. 
A  drove  of  wild  turkeys  also  furnished  us  with  a  half  dozen 
shots,  but  with  all  the  expenditure  of  powder  and  lead,  our 
consciences  are  clear  of  hurting  anything.  Got  back  to  Worth- 
ington's  for  dinner  at  3  p.  m.,  and  to  the  boat  at  dark.  Al- 
together one  of  the  most  pleasant  days  I  have  passed  in  the 
army. 

October  4,  1863. 

Have  been  over  to  Worthington's  again  to-day.  Sam 
got  out  his  hounds  and  started  a  deer  for  us.  We 
stationed  ourselves  in  the  runway,  but  although  the  deer 
came  near  us  two  or  three  times  in  his  circling,  the  dogs  didn't 
push  him  hard  enough  to  make  him  break  for  distant  cover. 
The  major  killed  a  very  large  snake  and  some  of  the  boys  got 
a  shot  at  an  alligator.  We  then  left  the  bayou  and  went  out 
to  old  River  Lake,  where  we  got  some  splendid  shooting.  I 
killed  a  water  turkey  at  500  yards,  shooting  into  a  flock.  Our 
guns,  the  Henry  rifle,  threw  bullets  full  a  mile  and  one-half. 
I  found  that  I  could  do  tolerably  close  shooting,  something  I 
never  suspicioned  before.  A  neighbor  told  me  that  old 
Worthington  sold  the  mother  of  his  children,  and  with  her 
five  other  picaninnies. 

Memphis,  Tenn.,  October  10,  1863,  4  p.  m. 
Have  just  got  here;  bored  to  death.  Had  to  march 
around  three  sandbars  between  Helena  and  Memphis. 
Never  want  to  see  a  steamboat  again.  Never  want  to  journalize 
again.  We  started  at  5  in  the  morning  for  Corinth  and 
then,  maybe,  for  Rosecrans.  I'll  be  furiously  glad  to  get 
ashore  once  more. 

luka,  Miss.,  October  21,  1863. 

We  reached  here  the  evening  of  the  i8th  inst,  and  I  have 
been  on  extra  heavy  fatigue  nearly  ever  since  our  arrival. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  IQ7 

We  worked  all  night  first  night  loading  wagon  trains  and 
unloading  cars.  We  were  doing  the  work  of  another  divi- 
sion, but,  such  is  war.  The  impression  is  that  we  will 
leave  here  about  the  23d.  The  other  divisions  have  all 
moved  on,  taking  with  them  thirty  days'  rations.  We 
marched  all  the  way  from  Memphis.  Went  about  20  miles 
out  of  our  way  to  burn  a  little  secesh  town  of  some  forty 
homes — Mount  Pleasant.  We  reached  Collinsville  the  day 
after  Sherman,  with  about  800  men,  had  his  fight  with 
Chalmers.  I  stood  the  march  splendidly,  and  am  good 
for  Chattanooga  at  25  miles  per  day.  It  rained  gently 
three  nights  on  this  march,  and  one  night  like  the  devil. 
We  got  in  that  night  about  9  o'clock,  and  by  a  blunder 
of  our  brigade  commander  bivouacked  in  a  regular  dismal 
swamp.  We  had  just  stacked  arms  when  the  clouds 
sprung  a  leak,  and  such  a  leak,  the  cataract  of  Niagara  is 
a  side  show,  comparatively.  Build  a  fire !  Why,  that  rain 
would  have  quenched  a  Vesuvius  in  its  palmiest  days.  I 
never  saw  just  such  a  night.  The  one  we  spent  at  Lump- 
kin's  Mill  on  the  i8th  of  last  April,  of  which  I  wrote  you, 
was  more  disagreeable,  because  colder;  but  in  six  hours 
am  sure  I  never  saw  so  much  water  drop  as  in  this  last 
rain. 

luka,  Miss.,  October  26,  1863. 

Let  your  pocket  'kerchief  float  out  on  the  breeze,  halloo 
a  little  and  throw  up  your  bonnet.  It's  only  a  "march  at 
12  o'clock  to-night"  but  that's  good  enough.  We've  been 
here  a  week  now,  drawing  clothing  and  making  all  kinds 
of  preparations  for  a  "forward,"  and  the  blessed  word  has 
come  at  last.  I  don't  believe  anybody  enjoys  anything 
better  than  I  do  marching.  I  feel  as  coltish  all  the  time  on 
a  move  as  I  used  to,  when  after  a  long  week  of  those  short 
winter  days  at  school,  with  just  time  enough  between  the 
school  hours  and  dark  to  cut  the  next  day's  wood  (how  I 
did  work),  Job  Walker  and  I  would  plunge  into  those 
dear  old  Big  Creek  woods  with  our  guns  or  skates,  and 


198  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

make  such  a  day  of  it  that  I  would  almost  wish  all  time 
was  cut  up  into  Saturdays.  I  was  on  picket  last  night;  full 
moon,  splendid  post,  right  on  the  old  luka  battle  ground, 
where  the  fight  was  the  hottest;  the  old  clothes,  straps, 
cartridge  boxes  and  litter  always  found  in  such  places,  the 
scarred  trees,  and  the  mounds  a  little  further  up  the  road, 
marking  the  pits  where  lay  the  glorious  dead,  then  a  half 
dozen  neatly  marked  single  graves,  showing  the  care  of 
some  company  commander,  all  tempted  me  to  commit 
some  more  poetry.  You  know  I  can.  But  I  nobly  resisted 
the  temptation.  There  were  no  coons  or  owls.  I  wished  for 
them.  My  picketing  the  last  year  has  almost  all  been  in 
swamps,  and  I  have  learned  to  love  the  concerts  those  inno- 
cent animals  improvise.  When  I  got  in  this  morning 
found  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at  12  this  p.  m.  We 
cross  the  Tennessee  river,  I  suppose,  near  Eastport.  This 
beats  me  all  hollow.  Can't  see  the  point,  unless  we're 
moving  to  check  some  of  Bragg's  flanking  motions.  Any- 
thing for  a  move.  I  put  the  profile  of  a  fort  here  the  other 
day  under  the  direction  of  Sherman's  engineer,  and  the 
chief  told  me  if  I  would  like  it  he  would  have  me  detailed 
to  assist  him.  Have  had  enough  of  staff  duty  and  excused 
myself.  The  men  are  rapidly  becoming  more  healthy.  I 
have  but  one  person  sick  now.  Dorrance  arrived  here  a 
few  days  since,  and  brought  a  splendid  long  letter  from 
you.  Have  to  go  to  work  on  some  ordnance  reports  now. 

Am  half  inclined  to  think  that  our  big  march  is  played  out. 
Rather  think  now  that  we  will  stop  at  Eastport  on  the  Tennes- 
see river.  Isn't  that  heavy?  Eight  miles  only  and  then  go  to 
guarding  navigation  on  a  river  that's  a  twin  sister  of  Big 
Creek.  Can't  tell  though,  one  rumor  says  that  we  will  go  128 
miles  beyond  the  river.  These  generals  are  positively  getting 
so  sharp  that  a  man  can't  tell  one  month  ahead  what  they  are 
going  to  do. 

One  of  my  men  who  was  captured  down  near  Panola,  Miss., 
last  April  returned  to  the  company  for  duty  yesterday.  Some 
Confederate  soldiers  captured  him  and  some  citizens  offered 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  199 

them  $10  to  each   captor  for  the  privilege  of  hanging  the 

d d  Yanks.    They  couldn't  make  a  bargain.    Transferred 

five  men  to  the  invalid  corps  yesterday.     Jacob  J.  Nicholson 
among  them. 

Florence,  Ala.,  November  i,  1863. 

We  struck  tents  on  the  27th  ult.  at  luka,  Miss.,  and  marched 
to  Eastport,  eight  miles,  that  night.  We  had  in  our  division 
some  200  wagons,  all  of  which  with  1,200  horses  and  mules 
were  to  be  crossed  in  a  barge  over  the  Tennessee  river.  I 
received  a  complimentary  detail  to  superintend  the  crossing  of 
the  wagons  belonging  to  one  brigade.  I  think  I  never  worked 
harder  than  I  did  from  7  o'clock  that  night  until  6 130  o'clock 
the  next  day,  a.  m.  It  occupied  two  days  and  nights  crossing 
the  whole  train,  but  we  marched  at  3  p.  m.,  the  28th,  and 
camped  that  night  at  Gravelly  springs,  15  miles  from  East- 
port.  The  road  ran  for  some  ten  miles  along  the  foot  of  the 
river  bluff,  and  the  numerous  springs  sparkling  their  beauti- 
fully clear  and  fresh  jets  of  limestone  water  on  the  road,  from 
which  they  rippled  in  almost  countless  little  streamlets  to  the 
river,  although  adding  much  to  the  wild  beauty  of  the  coun- 
try, made  such  a  disagreable  splashy  walking  for  we  footmen 
that  (I  speak  more  particularly  for  myself)  we  failed  to  ap- 
preciate it.  We  bivouacked  for  the  night  at  about  9  p.  m. 
The  morn  of  the  29th  we  started  at  8  o'clock,  and  after  ascend- 
ing the  bluff,  marched  through  a  magnificent  country  to  this 
place,  15  miles.  Some  three  miles  from  here  at  the  crossing 
of  Cypress  creek,  something  like  50  or  60  girls,  some  of  them 
rather  good  looking,  had  congregated  and  they  seemed  much 
pleased  to  see  us.  All  avowed  themselves  Unionists. 

There  had  been  a  large  cotton  mill  at  this  crossing,  Comyn 
burned  it  last  summer,  which  had  furnished  employment  for 
these  women  and  some  200  more.  This  is  a  very  pretty  lit- 
tle town.  Has  at  present  some  very  pretty  women.  Two  of 
the  sirens  came  very  near  charming  me  this  a.  m.  Bought 
two  dozen  biscuits  of  them.  Have  been  out  of  bread  for  two 
days  before,  but  had  plenty  of  sweet  potatoes  and  apples.  Dur- 


2OO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

ing  the  march  on  the  29th  we  heard  Blair  pounding  away 
with  his  artillery  nearly  all  day  across  the  river,  I  should 
think  about  a  dozen  miles  west  of  Tuscumbia.  I  was  down  to 
the  bank  the  morning  of  the  3Oth  ult.  and  the  Rebels  across 
shot  at  our  boys,  watering  mules,  but  without  effecting  any 
damage.  I  saw  a  white  flag  come  down  to  the  bank  and  heard 
that  Ewing  sent  over  to  see  what  was  wanted,  nothing  more. 
There  was  some  musketry  fighting  yesterday  near  Tuscumbia, 
but  don't  know  who  it  was.  We  are  four  and  one-half  miles 
from  there.  Two  companies  of  the  4th  Regular  Cavalry 
reached  here  on  the  3Oth  from  Chattanooga,  bearing  dispatches 
to  Sherman.  He  is  at  luka.  All  of  these  movements  beat  me 
completely.  Can't  see  the  point  and  doubt  if  there  is  one.  We 
have  commenced  fortifying  here.  Have  seen  much  better 
places  to  fight.  We  are  "fixed  up"  most  too  nicely  to  hope 
to  live  here  long.  I  have  a  stove,  a  good  floor  covered  with 
Brussels  carpet,  plenty  of  chairs  and  a  china  table  set  under 
my  tent.  Eatables  are  plenty  and  would  offer  no  objection  if 
ordered  to  stay  here  a  couple  of  weeks.  Understand  that  not 
a  farthing's  worth  of  the  above  was  "jayhawked."  Got  it  all 
on  the  square.  I  wish  I  could  send  you  the  mate  to  a  biscuit 
I  just  ate.  'Twould  disgust  the  oldest  man  in  the  world  with 
the  Sunny  South.  By  hemp,  but  it  is  cold  these  nights.  Last 
night  there  was  an  inch  of  white  frost.  I  was  nearly  frozen. 
Dorrance  swears  that  Mattison  and  I  were  within  an  ace  of 
killing  him  in  our  endeavors  to  "close  up"  and  keep  warm. 

Winchester,  Tenn.,  November  n,  1863. 
We  arrived  here  at  9  this  a.  m.,  our  brigade  making  the  dis- 
tance from  Salem,  n  miles,  in  three  hours.  That,  we  call  fast 
walking.  I  wrote  you  last  from  Florence.,  Ala.,  on  the  ist  inst. 
From  there  we  marched  to  Rodgersville  and  thence  up  the 
right  bank  of  Elk  river  to  Fayetteville,  where  we  crossed  there 
onto  this  place.  Rumor  says  that  we  draw  20  days'  rations 
here.  It  is  three-fourths  official,  too.  It  is  certain  that  we 
leave  here  in  the  morning,  but  nobody  knows  where  for.  We 
could  certainly  march  to  Chattanooga  in  six  days,  but  could 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2OI 

go  much  quicker  by  the  railroad  from  Decherd  station,  which 
is  only  two  miles  from  here.  The  wagon  road  from  here  to 
Chattanooga  is  awful.  But  one  brigade  has  ever  marched  it. 
The  mountains  commence  right  here  and  continue  to,  the  Lord 
knows  where.  Our  brigade  is  to  be  mounted  immediately.  In 
the  last  60  miles  marching  we  have  mounted  800  or  nearly 
half.  The  citizens  along  the  road  very  kindly  furnished  all  of 
stock  and  equipments.  My  company  was  mounted  four  days 
ago.  Company  C  is  to  be  mounted  next.  As  fast  as  the  men 
are  mounted  they  are  put  out  as  foragers  for  more  horses,  etc. 
The  first  day  my  company  was  mounted  we  got  30  horses,  and 
would  have  done  better,  but  confound  me  if  I  could  take 
horses  from  crying  women,  although  I  am  satisfied  that  half 
of  their  howling  is  sham,  got  up  for  the  occasion.  My  first 
day's  foraging  almost  used  me  up.  We  had  fed  our  horses 
and  I  went  to  unhitch  a  mule  from  the  fence  to  give  him  in 
charge  of  one  of  the  men,  and  the  brute  scared  and  jerked  the 
rail  from  the  fence  and  started  like  lightning.  The  end  of 
the  rail  struck  me  on  the  calves  of  my  legs  and  elevated  my 
boots  five  feet.  The  attraction  of  gravitation  brought  me  down 
to  the  globe  and  I  landed  with  a  great  deal  of  vim  on  a  rock 
about  the  size  of  our  parlor  floor,  and  as  smooth  as  a  peach 
stone.  The  only  severe  injury  either  the  rock  or  myself  sus- 
tained was  a  very  badly  sprained  wrist.  I  got  that.  My  left 
hip  and  left  shoulder  were  hurt  some,  but  the  wrist  has  pained 
me  so  confoundedly  that  I  don't  count  them.  It  has  pained 
me  so  for  the  last  two  days  and  is  so  tender  that  I  could 
stand  neither  the  jolting  of  a  horse  or  wagon.  I  tried  to  ride 
my  horse  this  morning;  we  were  in  column  and  had  to  strike 
a  trot  and  that  beat  me.  Think  I  will  be  all  right  for  the  sad- 
dle in  a  few  days,  though  will  have  a  tender  wrist  for  a  good 
while.  Well,  our  division  came  through  in  the  advance  and 
our  brigade  has  had  the  lead  most  of  the  time.  We  have  had 
plenty  of  forage,  but  light  issues  of  regular  rations  probably 
average.  Half  Morgan  L.  Smith's  and  John  E.  Smith's  di- 
visions are  close  up  to  us,  will  be  here  to-morrow.  Osterhaus 


2O2  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

and  Dodge  are  behind  them.  We  have  five  divisions  all  told, 
probably  25,000  or  30,000  men.  We  met  here  the  first  troops 
belonging  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

Mud  Creek  Cove,  Jackson  County,  Ala. 

December  8,   1863. 

I  was  at  Stevenson  yesterday  and  put  a  letter  in  the  office 
for  you,  but  with  my  accustomed  shrewdness  failed  to  either 
stamp  or  frank  it.  It  graphically  described  the  gallant  ex- 
ploits of  the  detachment  I  have  the  honer  to  command  dur- 
ing the  past  three  weeks,  and  its  loss  will  be  deplored  in  com- 
mon with  the  other  heavy  losses  of  this  "cruel  war."  I  can 
now  but  give  you  the  topics  it  discussed  or  elaborated,  and 
leave  to  your  imagination  the  finishing  and  stringing  to- 
gether the  skeleton.  First  and  foremost,  stealing  horses ;  sec- 
ond, defying  bravely  the  tears  and  entreaties  of  helpless  women, 
and  taking  their  last  measure  of  meal  and  rasher  of  bacon ; 
third,  the  splendid  conduct  of  our  regiment  and  brigade  at 
the  late  Mission  Ridge  fight;  fourth,  reflections.  Do  you  re- 
member, how,  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  one  and 
one-half  years  ago,  Halleck  thought  the  rebellion  virtually 
ended?  And  how  many  of  the  soldiers  wrote  home  that  they 
expected  to  be  mustered  out  within  three  months  ?  Then  Hal- 
leck sent  Buell  with  half  of  the  army  toward  Chattanooga, 
Sherman  and  Hurlburt  to  Memphis,  McClernand  and  Logan 
to  Jackson,  Tennessee ;  kept  some  four  divisions  at  Corinth, 
and  with  three  others  opened  and  guarded  95  miles  of  railroad 
east  to  Decatur.  That  was  what  he  called  letting  the  army 
enjoy  the  rest  they  had  earned  by  their  glorious  victory. 
The  whole  of  the  splendid  army  that  had  forced  the  Rebels 
to  leave  Corinth,  was  divided,  subdivided  and  the  sub- 
divisions divided  until,  except  Buell's,  there  was  hardly  a 
detachment  left  strong  enough  to  hold  its  own  against  any 
overgrown  band  of  guerrillas.  The  result  you  know. 
Buell's  retreat  with  his  heavy  losses  of  detachments  at 
Munfordsville,  etc.,  our  evacuation  of  the  M.  &  C.  R.  R. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  203 

between  Memphis  and  Corinth,  the  driving  in  of  our 
guards  from  Decatur  to  Corinth,  and  the  fight  there  in 
October  which  we  gained  only  because  our  side  weighed 
only  one  ounce  the  most;  and  finally  they  shut  us  up  in 
Memphis,  Bolivar,  Corinth  and  Nashville  so  closely  that 
foraging  parties  hardly  dared  venture  ten  miles  from  the 
siege  guns,  and  there  our  army  stayed  until  relieved  by 
"500,000  more."  I  don't  like  to  slander  so  great  and  noble 
a  man  as  Grant,  by  insinuating  that  he  has  any  notion 
similar  to  Halleck's,  but  what  I  have  seen  with  my  naked 
eye,  and  heard  from  good  authority  with  my  uncovered 
ears,  makes  me  think  he  has  in  his  opinion  at  the  Look- 
out, Mission  Ridge,  Ringgold  fight,  bursted  the  rebellion 
to  flinders.  I  know  that  Sherman  with  six  divisions  has 
gone  to  Knoxville.  John  E.  Smith's  and  Osterhaus'  divisions 
are  at  Bridgeport  on  their  way  to  Huntsville  or  Decatur. 
Some  12  companies  of  artillery,  (nearly  enough  for  a 
corps)  went  to  Nashville  yesterday,  and  Hooker  with  the 
nth  and  I2th  Corps,  are  going  back  to  the  Potomac.  Does 
that  sound  anything  like  active  forward  movements?  And 
don't  it  sound  exactly  like  Halleck's  disposition  of  the  army 
after  he  got  Corinth?  I  predict  that  no  good  will  come 
from  scattering  the  army  in  this  way,  and  much  harm. 
Bragg  has  fallen  back  to  Dalton,  only  25  or  30  miles  from 
Chattanooga,  and  15  less  than  Beauregard  ran  from  Cor- 
inth. The  Rebel  cavalry  are  already  driving  in  our  fora- 
gers at  Chattanooga.  That's  all  I  have  to  say  about  the 
matter.  Our  regiment,  brigade  and  division  have  gone 
with  Sherman  to  Burnside's  relief.  They  are  probably  at 
Knoxville  now.  All  accounts  agree  that  the  regiment 
behaved  splendidly ;  and  Fulton  county  ought  to  either 
disown  her  soldiers  or  quit  disgracing  them  by  her  d — sh 
copperheadism.  You  didn't  have  any  fears  for  my  safety 
when  you  heard  of  the  fight,  did  you  ?  Of  course  you  knew 
I  wouldn't  be  there.  I  heard  three  days  before  the  fight 
that  it  would  probably  open  Sunday  or  Monday.  Tues- 
day I  was  out  in  the  Cumberland  mountains,  near  Paint 


204  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Rock,  some  50  miles  from  Chattanooga,  when  suddenly 
we  heard  the  sound  of  cannonading.  I  thought  of  our 
regiment  being  in  the  fight  and  my  company  away,  and 
cursed  my  luck  to  the  best  of  my  ability.  I  never  expect 
to  be  in  a  battle.  Being  shot  by  a  guerrilla  is  as  good  as 
I  will  probably  get.  It  is  strange  that  there  was  only  the 
one  vicinity  in  which  we  could  hear  the  firing  that  day, 
and  25  miles  nearer  the  scene  of  action  they  were  unable 
to  hear  it.  We  are  meetjng  with  good  success  hunting 
horses.  We  only  lack  about  200  of  having  enough  to 
mount  the  brigade  and  will  have  them  by  the  time  they 
get  back  from  Knoxville.  My  men  were  never  as  healthy 
as  now.  My  old  convalescent  "stand-bys"  now  walk  into 
their  double  rations  of  fresh  meat  and  corn  pone  tremen- 
dously, and  do  their  share  of  duty  splendidly.  For  four 
weeks  we  have  had  nothing  to  eat  but  corn  bread  and 
fresh  pork.  I  am  beginning  to  like  it.  It  positively  does 
taste  better  every  day,  and  I  destroy  immense  quantities. 
When  reading  about  the  elephant  browsing  upon  the  tree 
tops,  did  you  ever  imagine  what  an  awful  crashing  he 
would  make?  That's  about  like  the  smash  I  make  among 
the  spareribs  and  hoecake.  I  thought  that  when  they  set 
me  up  as  horse  thief,  that  my  measure  was  filled,  that  earth 
had  nothing  left  too  bitter  for  me  to  quaff  or  "chaw."  But 
last  night  a  draught  was  put  to  my  lips  of  which  I  drank, 
and  lo,  I  am  undone.  Can't  look  an  honest  man  in  the 
face.  Fortunately  there  are  no  honest  men  in  this  com- 
mand, so  I  am  spared  the  mortification  of  turning  my  eyes. 
I  was  sent  out  to  steal  sheep.  Can't  call  taking  aught  from 
these  poor  miserable  citizen  devils  here  anything  but  steal- 
ing. I  made  a  pretty  good  haul.  They  go  to  the  front 
to-day;  I  expect  for  hospital  use.  Of  course  we  have  to 
take  them,  but  these  citizens  are  on  the  verge  of  bank- 
ruptcy as  far  as  eating  is  concerned.  Saw  Bill  and  Davis 
Trites  at  Bridgeport  two  days  since.  All  right.  Had  just 
got  back  with  their  division  from  Chattanooga.  Were 
both  well.  Captain  Walsh,  who  was  killed,  was  one  of  the 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  205 

finest  officers  in  our  regiment.  I  had  formed  a  strong  at- 
tachment for  him,  and  mourn  his  loss  as  a  dear  friend  and 
splendid  fellow.  His  company,  in  camp,  joins  mine  on  the 
left  and  we  were  more  intimate  than  I  was  with  any  other 
officer  in  this  command. 

Bivouac  in  Mud  Creek  Cove,  near  Belle  Fonte,  Ala., 

December  n,  1863. 

Without  any  earthly  cause  I  am  troubled  with  a  small 
fit  of  the  blues  this  evening.  I  can't  imagine  what  brought 
it  on.  I  am  cross,  restless  and  tired.  Don't  want  any  com- 
pany— wouldn't  go  to  see  a  girl  if  there  were  a  thousand 
within  a  hundred  rods.  Interesting  state  for  an  interesting 
youth,  isn't  it.  Guess  the  trouble  must  be  in  the  fact  that 
I  have  no  trouble.  Everything  moves  too  smoothly.  No 
pushing  in  my  family  to  knock  down  a  looking-glass  bal- 
anced on  a  knitting  needle.  Nothing  in  my  precious  life 
to  keep  me  awake  one  minute  of  my  sleeping  time,  and 
nothing  in  the  future  that  I  now  care  a  scrap  for.  All  of 
that  is  certainly  enough  to  make  one  miserable.  I'm  con- 
vinced that  my  constitution  requires  some  real  misery,  or 
a  prospect  for  the  same,  in  order  to  keep  me  properly 
balanced.  If  you  can  furnish  me  any  hints  on  the  subject, 
that  will  induce  distress,  trouble,  or  care,  in  a  reasonable 
quantity  to  settle  on  my  brain,  I  will  be  obliged.  I  have 
written  you  so  much  about  soldiering,  sister,  that  I'm 
thinking  the  subject  must  be  pretty  well  exhausted.  You 
must  have  received  as  many  as  150  letters  from  me  since 
I  entered  the  army.  I  have  had  a  host  of  interesting  experi- 
ences since  I  enlisted,  but  when  I  am  alone,  and  naturally 
turn  to  my  little  past  for  company,  I  always  skip  the  army 
part  and  go  back  to  the  old  home  memories.  One  finds 
a  plenty  of  opportunities  for  such  self-communing  in  the 
service,  and  if  I  haven't  profited  by  mine,  it  is  my  own  fault. 
Did  I  ever  tell  you  how  I  love  picket  duty?  I  have  always 
preferred  it  over  all  other  of  our  routine  duties,  yet  it 


206  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

would  take  a  sheet  of  foolscap  to  tell  you  why;  and  then 
nobody  could  understand  me  the  way  I'd  write  it.  So 
we'll  pass.  It  seems  a  long  time  since  I  was  at  home. 
What  do  you  think  of  my  eating  Christmas  dinner  with 
you?  Don't  let's  think  of  that  at  all.  I  start  for  Chatta- 
nooga in  the  morning  to  get  my  team  and  things.  It  is 
six  weeks  since  I  have  had  a  change  of  clothes  from  my 
valise.  Borrowed  a  shirt  from  a  woman  once  and  got  mine 
washed. 

Greasy  Cove,  Jackson  Co.,  Ala.,  December  19,  1863. 
On  examination  of  my  pockets  this  morning,  I  find  a 
letter  I  wrote  you  a  week  since.  Will  mail  it  this  morning 
and  tell  you  the  late  news  in  another  dispatch.  You  notice 
we  have  again  changed  our  camp,  and  you'll  probably  ad- 
mire the  classic  names  they  have  given  these  beautiful 
valleys.  I  was  at  Stephenson  and  Bridgeport  a  few  days 
since  for  our  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  and  was  just 
starting  back  with  it  when  I  heard  that  our  detachment 
was  ordered  to  report  to  the  rest  of  the  brigade  at  their 
camp  at  Athens,  Tenn.,  40  miles  beyond  Chattanooga.  So 
I  left  my  traps  and  came  back  to  move.  We  will  start  as 
soon  as  our  parties  get  in  from  scouting.  The  last  party 
that  went  out  and  returned  was  some  200  strong.  Dor- 
ranee  had  20  men  from  our  detachment.  They  brought  in 
a  splendid  lot  of  horses,  but  had  to  go  75  miles  for  them. 
The  guerrillas  killed  one  man  of  the  party,  (46th  Ohio) 
and  captured  a  number,  maybe  15.  Picked  them  up  one, 
two  or  three  at  a  time.  Dorrance  was  captured  and  pa- 
roled by  some  of  Forrest's  men.  He  was  pretty  well 
treated,  but  the  parole  amounts  to  nothing.  They  took 
nearly  all  of  his  money,  his  arms,  spurs,  horse,  etc.  He 
was  the  only  one  of  my  men  captured.  It  is  confounded 
cold  lately  and  I  haven't  been  real  dry  for  three  days.  We 
have  to  swim  creeks  to  go  anywhere,  and  there  is  so  much 
brush  and  drift  in  these  streams  that  a  horse  will  always 
get  tangled  and  souse  a  fellow.  I  swam  a  horse  across 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2O/ 

a  creek  yesterday,  and  he  went  over  on  his  hind  legs  stand- 
ing straight  up.  I  never  saw  such  a  brute.  Rumor  says 
we  will  be  dismounted  and  go  with  the  corps  to  Mobile. 
But  the  most  probable  story  is  that  we  are  going  into  camp 
at  Athens  for  the  winter.  Would  much  rather  go  to  Mo- 
bile but  think  that  we  can't  be  spared  from  here. 

Near  Larkinsville,  Ala.,  December  29,  1863. 
We  have  had  some  busy  times  since  my  last.  Foraging 
for  horses,  looking  for  something  to  eat,  and  trying  to  obey 
a  host  of  contradictory  orders,  has  kept  us  in  the  saddle 
almost  constantly.  I  believe  I  wrote  you  about  Dorrance's 
going  over  to  Elk  river,  Tenn.  for  horses  and  getting 
captured.  When  the  next  scout  was  ordered  out,  I  was  at 
Bridgeport  on  business,  and  Lieutenant  Smith  went  in 
charge.  They  were  absent  a  week  and  when  I  heard  from 
them,  and  that  they  had  but  seven  extras,  I  started  after 
them  and  found  them  25  miles  from  camp.  That  night  I 
got  permission  from  the  officer  in  command  to  take  20 
men  and  be  absent  two  days.  I  went  over  the  mountain 
into  Madison  county  near  Huntsville,  got  34  good  horses 
and  was  back  on  time.  I  also  captured  a  guerrilla  with 
his  horse  and  traps,  and  found  a  lot  of  clothing  which  had 
been  taken  from  Federal  soldiers  and  officers  captured  by 
Rebels  and  concealed  in  a  hovel  on  the  mountain.  In  the 
round  trip  of  the  last  six  days,  about  150  miles,  the  boys 
have  destroyed  at  least  50  shotguns  and  rifles.  To-day, 
an  officer  of  Ewing's  staff  is  here  selecting  our  best  horses, 
for  the  use  of  Sherman,  Logan,  etc.  We  think  it  con- 
foundedly mean,  but  guess  we'll  stand  it.  We  have  enough 
horses  to  mount  the  brigade,  but  there  is  some  doubt  about 
that  little  event  taking  place.  They  can't  beat  me  out  of 
being  satisfied  whatever  they  do.  Would  rather  remain 
mounted,  but  Sherman's  will  be  done.  I  have  turned  into 
the  corral  fully  my  proportion  of  horses,  haven't  lost  a 
man,  and  none  of  my  command  have  been  guilty  of  rob- 
bing, plundering,  or  stealing.  That's  what  the  officer  of 


2O8  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

no  other  detachment  here  can  say,  truthfully.  I  do  think 
I  have  the  best  lot  of  men  that  ever  soldiered  together,  and 
there  are  now  41  for  duty.  The  rest  of  the  brigade  is  at 
Scottsboro,  only  six  miles  from  here,  and  they  will  proba- 
bly go  into  winter  quarters  there.  Possibly,  at  Belle 
Fountain.  I  am  in  splendid  health  and  enjoying  myself 
excellently.  My  wrist  is  improving  slowly,  but  there  is 
something  broken  about  it.  It  will,  however,  answer  my 
purpose  if  it  gets  no  worse.  One  ought  occasionally  to 
have  something-  of  that  kind  in  order  to  a  better  apprecia- 
tion of  our  many  blessings.  What  wonderful  luck  I  have 
soldiering,  don't  I?  Now,  in  our  two  month's  foraging,  I 
haven't  lost  a  man.  Only  one  wounded  a  little,  and  one 
man  and  Dorrance  captured  and  let  go  again.  In  the  same 
time  the  I5th  Michigan  have  lost  about  20.  The  46th 
Ohio  have  had  two  killed,  the  6th  Iowa  two  killed,  and  the 
4Oth  Illinois  two  hung  and  two  missing.  We  have  been 
over  all  the  country  they  have,  and  done  just  as  much 
work,  without  losing  a  man.  I  am  hopeful  of  obtaining 
some  recruits  from  the  Fairview  country,  but  can  get 
along  without  them..  Have  as  good  as  been  out  of  the 
world  for  two  months.  I  haven't  worn  socks  since  I  left 
Memphis.  Too  much  trouble.  Has  rained  steadily  for  the 
four  last  days.  I  have  ridden  from  daylight  until  dark 
each  day.  Got  dried  off  to-day  for  the  first  time.  Swam 
our  horses  over  three  bad  creeks.  Lieutenant  Smith  and 
three  men  came  very  near  drowning.  My  mare  swam 
splendidly. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  January  5,  1864. 

Your  brother  no  longer  represents  the  Festive  Mama- 
luke,  but  has  returned  from  his  paradise  of  fresh  pork, 
cornbread,  honey,  milk,  and  horse,  to  his  original  heavy 
infantry  exercise,  his  nix-Grahamite  diet  of  army  rations, 
to  that  headquarters  of  red-tapeism,  a  "permanent  camp," 
in  short,  to  the  elysium  of  the  enlisted  men,  and  purgatory 
of  company  commanders  winter  quarters.  In  short,  the 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2OO, 

powers  that  be  concluded  that  dismounting  us  would  not 
render  the  salvation  of  the  Union  impossible,  and  as  the 
detachment  was  getting  a  very  hard  reputation,  and 
making  much  trouble  for  said  powers  to  settle,  'twas  de- 
cided to  unhorse  us.  It's  all  over  now,  the  mounting  part 
has  "played"  and  that  string  will  not  probably  be  harped 
on  again  for  this  brigade  to  dance  to.  I  think  that  to-day, 
Sherman,  Logan  or  Ewing  would  not  trust  a  detachment 
of  this  brigade  on  sorebacked  mules  if  they  had  only  three 
legs.  This  little  squad  of  500  men  in  the  two  months  they 
have  been  mounted  have  committed  more  devilment  than 
two  divisions  of  regular  cavalry  could  in  five  years. 
Everything  you  can  think  of,  from  shooting  negroes,  or 
marrying  these  simple  country  women,  down  to  stealing 
babies'  diapers.  From  taking  $2,700.00  in  gold,  to  snatch- 
ing a  brass  ring  off  the  finger  of  the  woman  who -handed 
a  drink  of  water.  From  taking  the  last  "old  mar"  the 
widow  had  to  carry  her  grist  to  mill,  to  robbing  the  bed 
of  its  cord,  for  halters,  and  taking  the  clothes  line  and  bed- 
clothing  "to  boot."  I'll  venture  that  before  we  were  dis- 
mounted, not  a  wellrope,  tracechain,  or  piece  of  cord  of  any 
kind  strong  enough  to  hold  a  horse  could  be  found  in  the 
districts  through  which  we  have  foraged.  I  want  you  to 
understand  that  my  command  is  not  responsible  for  the 
heavy  devilment.  I  have  steadily  discountenanced  it,  and 
watched  my  men  carefully.  I  am  willing  to  be  responsible 
for  all  they  did,  and  will  probably  have  a  chance,  as  I 
understand  a  board  of  inquiry  sits  on  the  subject  shortly. 
Some  of  the  officers  will,  I  think,  have  cause  to  wish  they 
were  never  mounted;  and  to  think  that  "Mission  Ridge" 
would  have  been  preferable  to  the  duty  they  have  been  on. 
We  had  been  looking  for  General  Ewing  out  to  our  biv- 
ouac to  review  us  for  several  days,  and  I  rather  saw  in  the 
distance  that  dismount  was  an  order  we'd  get  shortly,  and 
had  sent  in  to  our  colonel,  lieutenant  colonel  and  staff  some 
of  my  best  horses,  knowing  that  if  we  got  dismounted  they 
would  be  taken  by  Sherman,  Logan  or  Ewing.  Sure  enough, 


210  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

on  the  morning  of  the  New  Year's  day  came  an  order  to 
form  to  be  review  by  some  heavy  staff.  The  review  con- 
sisted in  their  picking  out  what  good  horses  there  were,  turn- 
ing the  rest  into  a  corral,  and  sending  us  to  our  regiments 
on  foot.  We  got  here  the  same  day,  found  the  regiment  just 
pitching  camp,  with  the  idea  that  winter  quarters  or  a  good 
long  rest,  at  least,  was  their  portion.  Our  company  already 
has  good  comfortable  quarters  up,  and  is  as  well  fixed  for 
winter  as  we  care  about  being.  But  already  we  hear  it  ru- 
mored that  our  division  is  to  move  down  to  Huntsville  in 
a  short  time,  and  we  have  had  no  orders  to  prepare  winter 
quarters.  All  right.  It  has  been  pretty  cold  here  although 
we  have  had  no  snow  nor  ice  that  could  bear  a  man.  A  great 
deal  of  rain.  The  regiment  is  very  healthy.  Not  a  dozen  men 
complaining.  My  wrist  is  improving  slowly.  Not  worth  very 
much  yet.  Doctor  says  'twill  take  it  a  year  to  get  well.  That 
bone  at  the  wrist  joint  protrudes  considerably.  All  right. 
The  veteran  feeling  is  "terrific"  here.  Three  regiments  in 
our  brigade  the  only  ones  eligible  (that  is  that  have  been  in 
two  years)  have  re-enlisted  almost  to  a  man.  4Oth  Illinois, 
46th  Ohio  and  6th  Iowa.  In  our  division  there  are  seven 
regiments  eligible  and  all  have  re-enlisted,  and  are  going  home 
in  a  few  days.  It  is,  I  think,  the  grandest  thing  of  the  war. 
These  old  soldiers  so  enthusiastically  and  unanimously  "going- 
inimously."  I  guess  no  one  is  more  astonished  at  it  than  the 
very  men  who  are  enlisting.  One  of  the  4Oth  boys  told  me  that 
"about  15  of  us  were  talking  about  it  and  cussing  it,  until 
every  son  of  a  gun  of  us  concluded  to,  and  did  re-enlist."  Our 
regiment  hasn't  been  in  long  enough  to  make  veterans. 
Wouldn't  you  rather  have  me  stay  in  service  until  this  war 
ends?  I  get  the  blues,  though,  sometimes,  and  think  of  get- 
ting out  and  denying  that  I  ever  was  in  the  war.  Haven't  I 
a  brilliant  record,  Thirty-three  months  in  service  and  not  a 
battle. 

Clear  and  cold  this  morning.  I'm  very  comfortable.  Have 
built  me  a  brick  fireplace  and  chimney,  raised  my  tent  two 
and  one-half  feet  on  a  broad  frame.  Made  me  a  good  bed 
with  broom  sage  for  soft,  and  am  living  high. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  211 

I  received  three  recruits  yesterday  and  have  at  least  one 
more  coming.  I  have  more  men  for  duty  than  any  other 
company.  Night  before  last  two  Confederate  soldiers  came 
into  our  camp  and  stole  three  horses,  two  of  them  belonging 
to  our  surgeons,  and  the  other  to  the  adjutant.  The  Rebels 
crossed  the  Tennessee  river,  which  is  only  four  miles  from 
here  and  recrossed  safely  with  their  horses.  I  call  that  pretty 
sharp.  The  horses  were  only  about  30  yards  from  where  I 
sleep.  They  might  just  as  well  have  got  me.  I  feel  highly 
complimented  by  their  prefering  the  horses  to  me.  We  had 
one-fourth  of  an  inch  of  snow  last  night.  Gone  now.  Yes- 
terday three  teamsters,  belonging  to  Logan's  headquarters 
while  foraging  went  to  pillaging  a  house.  The  woman  of  the 
house  tried  to  stop  them,  when  one  of  the  fellows  struck  her 
on  the  head  with  a  gun  and  killed  her.  This  was  about  three 
miles  from  here. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  January  9,  1864. 

We  have  settled  down  into  fully  as  monotonous  a  monot- 
ony, as  I  ever  experienced.  The  powers  pretend  that  the  army 
is  tired  down  and  needs  rest,  so  duty  is  very  light,  no  drills 
ordered;  no  scouting  and  no  nothing,  but  a  first-class  prep- 
aration to  have  a  tremendous  sick  list  in  a  very  short  time. 
You  know  how  we  have  been  moving  for  the  last  three 
months,  and  that  we  have  hardly  suffered  a  half  dozen  cases 
of  sickness.  Now  see,  if  we  lie  here  four  weeks  longer,  if  I 
don't  report  you  60  on  the  sick  list.  Do  you  think  that  I  am 
something  of  a  grumbler?  Either  having  too  much  travel,  or 
too  much  lie  still.  Too  much  to  eat  (I  guess  not)  or  not 
enough,  etc.  I  suppose  that  news  here  is  about  as  scarce  as 
ice  cream  on  the  African  desert,  arid  of  nearly  the  same 
quality.  We  are  camped  in  the  edge  of  dense  woods,  about 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  town,  which  consists  of  20 
or  40  rather  neat  houses,  and  presents,  I  think  a  better  ap- 
pearance than  any  other  town  of  the  size  I  have  seen  in  the 
Confederacy.  It  hasn't  been  squashmolished  like  most  of  its 
sisters.  General  Logan's  headquarters  are  here.  Our  corps 


212  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

is  camped  along  the  road  from  here  to  Decatur,  our  whole 
division  being  here.  Our  division  commander,  is,  I  expect, 
the  most  unpopular  officer  with  his  corps  that  there  is  in  the 
West.  I  never  knew  his  match  for  meanness.  See  if  I  can 
think  of  all  I  have  been  ordered  by:  Prentiss,  Grant,  Logan, 
McClernand,  Wallace  (W.  H.  L.),  Oglesby,  Paine,  Pope, 

Granger,    Palmer    ( )    formerly   colonel    nth    Missouri., 

Rosecrans,  Morgan,  Buford,  Sheridan,  Hurlbut,  Lanman, 
Hamilton  ist,  Hamilton  2d;  Sullivan,  Lawler,  Sooy  Smith, 
Ewing,  Corse,  Halleck,  Sherman,  Davis,  and  at  least  two 
more  whose  names  I  can't  now  recall.  One  of  them  com- 
manded this  division  last  March,  and  the  other  the  4th  Divi- 
sion 1 6th  Army  Corps,  last  December,  for  a  few  days.  I 
have  lots  of  work  on  hand  writing  up  my  accounts,  but  this 
lying  still  begins  to  bore  me  awfully.  I  though  a  few  weeks 
ago  that  'twould  be  very  nice  to  have  a  tent  again,  and  things 
somewhat  comfortable,  but  the  beauties  of  the  thing  don't  last 
long.  I'm  ready  to  move  now.  We  have  had  several  pretty 
cold  days,  but  to-day  I  have  been  in  my  shirt  sleeves,  without 
vest,  all  day,  and  felt  very  comfortable,  though  it  didn't  thaw 
very  much,  and  I  believe  there  was  ice  in  our  water  bucket  all 
day.  Expect  you  are  having  a  gay  time  this  winter  at  home 
sleighing,  dancing,  etc.,  but  I  would  rather  take  mine  out  in  the 
army.  If  I  didn't  have  any  happy  Christmas  myself,  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  smashing  the  happiness  out  of  a  good  many 
secesh  Christmases.  That's  not  so.  It  was  not  pleasure,  but 
I  had  to. 

Steamer  "Cosmopolitan,"  bound  to  Beaufort  from 
Savannah,  Ga., 

January  21,  1864. 

I  was  at  Beaufort  some  three  days  when  I  received  a  de- 
tail on  a  "military  commission"  to  sit  at  headquarters,  4th  Di- 
vision of  our  corps  at  Savannah.  Reported  at  Savannah  on 
the  I7th  and  found  my  commission  had  finished  its  business 
and  adjourned,  all  of  which  satisfied  me.  Have  been  ever 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  213 

since  trying  to  get  back  to  the  regiment,  but  all  of  the  vessels 
which  run  on  this  line  have  been  in  use  as  lighters,  transfer- 
ing  the  1 9th  Corps  (which  now  occupies  Savannah)  from  the 
large  steamers  which  have  to  stop  at  the  bar  up  the  river. 
This  1 9th  Corps  is  a  portion  of  Sheridan's  command  and 
helped  him  win  those  glorious  victories  in  the  valley.  They 
are  a  fine  soldierly-looking  body  of  men,  but  have  already  had 
some  difficulty  with  our  troops.  As  I  left  the  city  I  saw  the 
wind  up  of  a  snug  little  fight  between  a  portion  of  the  2Oth 
and  1 9th  Corps.  Noticed  about  40  bloody  faces.  All  this 
kind  of  work  grows  out  of  corps  pride.  Fine  thing,  isn't  it, 
We  left  the  wharf  at  2  p.  m.  yesterday,  grounded  about  5 
p.  m.,  and  had  to  wait  for  high  tide,  which  came  at  midnight ; 
then  a  heavy  rain  and  fog  set  in  and  we  have  made  little  prog- 
ress since.  Are  now,  n  a.  m.,  at  anchor,  supposed  to  be  near 
the  mouth  of  Scull  Creek  waiting  for  the  fog  to  clear  up.  I 
am  terribly  bored  at  being  away  from  the  regiment  so  long. 
I  feel  lost,  out  of  place  and  blue.  What  glorious  news  from 
Fort  Fisher,  and  what  a  horrid  story  that  is  about  13  out 
of  the  15  prisoners  the  Rebels  had  of  our  regiment,  dying  of 
starvation.  One  of  them,  W.  G.  Dunblazier,  was  of  my  com- 
pany, and  a  better  boy  or  braver  soldier  never  shouldered  a 
musket.  He  was  captured  on  the  skirmish  line  at  Dallas. 

May  27,  '64. — Dr.  Buck  is  on  board  with  me  just  from  the 
North.  He  is  terribly  disgusted  with  the  service,  and  furn- 
ishes me  some  amusement.  I  believe  I  take  as  much  pleas- 
ure in  seeing  other  people  miserable — over  small  matters — 
as  I  do  in  a  good  thing  for  myself. 

12  a.  m.  Have  just  been  badly  beaten  at  cribbage  by  Col- 
onel Bloomfield,  and  the  boat  is  under  way  again,  the  fog 
having  gone  up. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  February  7,  1864. 

This  has  indeed  been  a  day  of  rest.  More  like  a  home  Sab- 
bath, than  the  Lord's  day  often  seems,  here  in  the  "show 
business."  None  of  my  company  have  been  on  duty,  and  as 
the  day  has  been  bright  and  warm,  the  men  have  been  nearly 


214  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

all  out  in  front  of  the  quarters;  all  looking  natty  and  clean 
and  healthy,  sunning  themselves  real  country-Sunday  fashion. 
Seems  to  me  that  I  grow  prouder  every  day  of  being  captain 
over  these  men.  If  I  could  only  get  30  good,  healthy  recruits, 
I  expect  I'd  have  to  be  "hooped."  The  boys  brought  a  fiddle 
in  with  them  yesterday  from  our  Lebanon  march,  and  as 
nearly  all  of  them  play,  "more  or  less,"  it  has  seen  but  little 
rest  to-day.  Every  man  I  have  present  (42)  is  for  duty,  and 
if  there  are  any  soldiers  in  the  army  who  can  outmarch  them, 
or  do  duty  better,  "I  want  them  for  Babcockses,"  as  the  boys 
say.  Frank  Post  was  in  my  tent  to-day,  and  informed  me  that 
in  her  last  letter,  Laura  told  him  that  some  horrible  stories 
of  my  cruelty  to  women  and  children  while  in  command  of 
the  mounted  detachment,  were  in  circulation  at  home.  He 
wanted  me  to  trace  the  author  of  them,  but  I  respectfully 
begged  to  be  excused.  The  person  who  told  such  stuff,  falsi- 
fies; for  I  never  killed  a  fly,  or  stepped  on  a  worm,  or  kicked 
a  dog,  or  threw  a  stone  at  a  cat,  and  know  I  wouldn't  treat 
a  woman  or  child  worse,  if  they  were  Rebels.  I  do  take  a 
little  private  satisfaction  in  knowing  that  I  have  never  said 
a  word,  except  respectfully,  to  any  woman  in  the  Confeder- 
acy, that  I  have  ever  touched  a  cent's  worth  of  private  prop- 
erty for  my  own  use.  We,  with  600  more  of  our  brigade, 
had  to  take  horses  and  rations  from  a  poor  set  of  people,  but 
that  was  no  more  our  fault  than  the  war  is.  Those  pretty 
crystals  I  sent  you  by  Lieutenant  Dorrance,  are  "Iceland 
Spar,"  which  is,  I  believe,  the  only  stone  which  possesses  the 
power  of  double  refraction.  If  you  put  a  thin  piece  of  it  over 
a  black  mark  on  paper,  and  look  closely,  you  will  see  two 
marks ;  try  this  piece  which  I  enclose.  I  took  a  lesson  in  chess 
last  night,  played  a  couple  of  games.  Don't  thing  I  would 
ever  make  a  player.  Colonel  Dickerman  is  at  present  com- 
manding the  brigade,  and  Major  Willison  the  regiment,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Wright  being  on  detached  service  as  a  divi- 
sion inspector  general.  Mattison  is  in  his  quartermaster  de- 
partment almost  constantly,  and  Dorrance's  absence  leaves 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  215 

me  quite  alone.  Dorrance  was  in  a  way,  good  company.  Al- 
ways in  a  good  humor  and  talking.  Real  accommodating,  too, 
if  carefully  handled. 

I  went  to  the  nearest  house  to  camp  to-day,  to  beg  a  little 
piece  of  tallow  to  soften  a  pair  of  marching  boots.  I  sat  down 
by  a  fire,  in  company  with  three  young  women,  all  cleanly 
dressed  and  powdered  to  death.  Their  ages  were  from  18  to 
24.  Each  of  them  had  a  quid  of  tobacco  in  her  cheek  about 
the  size  of  my  stone  inkstand,  and  if  they  didn't  make  the  ex- 
tract fly  worse  than  I  ever  saw  it  in  a  country  grocery,  shoot 
me.  These  women  here  have  so  disgusted  me  with  the  use 
of  tobacco  that  I  have  determined  to  abandon  it.  Well,  we  are 
again  under  orders  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice.  Received 
them  about  noon  to-day,  and  expect  to  start  in  the  morning. 
It  is  intimated  that  we  go  to  Chattanooga,  first,  and  then 
either  to  Daltbn,  Knoxville,  or  garrison  Chattanooga,  and  let 
its  present  occupants  go.  I  was  much  pleased  to  get  the  or- 
ders, for  above  all  things,  do  hate  a  permanent  camp.  I  en- 
joy the  tramping,  the  mud,  the  cold,  and  being  tired,  and 
everything  mean  there  is  about  soldiering,  except  being  hun- 
gry. That  beats  me  to  a  fraction.  If  I  could  only  go  without 
eating  three  or  four  days  at  a  time  I  would  pass  as  a  soldier, 
but  bless  me,  missing  a  meal  is  worse  than  drawing  a  tooth. 
I  never  tried  it  as  long  as  I  have  been  in  the  army,  but  it 
seems  to  me  that  putting  me  on  quarter  rations  would  be 
equivalent  to  putting  me  in  a  hospital  bed. 

Hurrah  for  the  march.  No  such  place  for  real  fun  else- 
where. We  have  our  regular  races,  and  tough  ones  they  are, 
too,  sometimes.  Each  regiment  takes  its  turn  in  having  the 
advance,  one  day  at  a  time.  Say,  to-day  we  have  the  lead, 
then  to-morrow  we  will  march  behind  all  the  rest,  and  the  next 
day  the  regiment  which  succeeded  us  in  the  lead  will  fall 
behind  us,  etc.  It  is  a  great  deal  easier  to  march  in  front 
than  in  the  rear,  because  in  passing  defile,  or  crossing  streams 
on  single  logs,  all  of  the  time  that  is  lost  falls,  finally,  on  the 
rearmost  regiment,  and  after  it  crosses  it  sometimes  has  to 
double-quick  it  a  mile  or  more  to  catch  up  again.  A  com- 


2l6  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

mon  time  step  or  90  to  the  minute,  in  front  with  a  brigade  of 
1,500  over  the  average  of  these  roads,  makes  the  rear  in 
order  to  keep  up,  take  more  than  quick  time,  or  over  112 
steps  to  the  minute,  during  their  marching  time.  So  you  can 
imagine  our  races,  though  fun  to  the  advance,  make  the  rear 
work — no  laughing  matter.  The  point  of  the  race  is  for  the 
advance  regiment  to  move  so  fast  that  the  others  will  break 
up,  tired  out,  and  straggle.  Yesterday  the  97th  Indiana  coming 
in  had  the  lead  and  undertook  to  run  us.  We  had  the  rear, 
but  by  not  waiting  to  cross  on  logs,  but  wading  through 
creeks  up  to  our  knees  or  middles  kept  at  their  heels  for  8 
miles  without  a  rest.  'Twas  raining  all  the  time  and  the 
roads  were  awful  slippery.  Our  brigade  tried  hard  to  run  us 
down  at  first,  but  now  none  of  them  doubt  our  ability  to 
march  with  any  regiment.  When  the  men  are  resting  along 
the  road  they  have  a  great  fashion  of  making  remarks  about 
any  strange  soldier  or  citizen  who  passes.  As  we  were  rest- 
ing on  the  5th  inst,  a  bare-footed,  sick-looking  soldier  came 
hobbling  through.  One  man  said,  "He's  sick,  don't  say  any- 
thing to  him ;"  another  said,  "No,  he's  shod  a  little  too 
rough;"  another,  "Yes,  and  he  interferes;"  another,  "Keep 
still  he's  slipping  upon  something;"  another,  "He's  showing 
us  how  Fanny  Elssler  went  over  a  looking  glass;"  another, 
"Come  here  and  I'll  take  the  pegs  out  of  your  shoes,"  etc. 
Wouldn't  that  be  interesting  to  the  passerby? 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  March  6,  1864. 

By  marching  21  miles  on  the  railroad  ties  we  reached 
"home"  yesterday,  after  an  absence  of  24  days,  in  which 
we  traveled  280  miles.  Altogether  it  was  a  very  pleasant 
trip,  although  the  first  10  nights  were  almost  too  cold  for 
outdoor  sleeping.  I  kept  a  "sort"  of  a  diary  of  this  trip  in  a 
memorandum  book,  and  being  too  lazy  to  copy,  tore  out 
the  leaves  and  mailed  to  you.  You  should  receive  three 
letters  of  that  kind.  One  about  the  "Wills  Valley"  trip, 
one  of  the  march  from  here  to  Cleveland,  and  the  third 
of  the  trip  from  Cleveland  to  Dalton  and  back.  The  rain 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  217 

was  pouring  down  when  we  received  orders  to  start  home 
from  Chattanooga  and  it  rained  almost  until  night.  We 
marched  16  miles  without  a  rest,  and  did  it  in  five  hours.  Did 
exactly  the  same  thing  next  day,  although  it  did  not  rain. 
This  was  from  Oltewah  to  Chattanooga.  In  addition  to 
this  march  I  took  a  look  over  the  part  of  Mission  Ridge 
where  our  regiment  fought,  and  also  climbed  Lookout 
mountain.  The  iO3d,  the  brigade  they  were  with,  un- 
doubtedly got  the  hottest  part  of  the  whole  Lookout,  and 
Mission  Ridge  fight.  The  nature  of  the  ground  was  such 
that  not  a  shot  was  fired  by  either  side  until  they  were 
within  200  yards  of  each  other,  when  our  men  charged. 
Some  of  our  boys  were  killed  a  little  to  the  right  of,  but 
on  a  line  with  the  Rebel  guns.  The  trees  and  shrubs  show 
marks  of  extraordinary  hot  musketry  work.  I  cut  a 
hickory  walking  stick  right  where  our  men  commenced  the 
charge.  This  hickory  stood  by  an  oak  that  I  should  think 
was  hit  by  400  musket  and  canister  balls.  It  helped  me 
later  in  the  day  to  climb  Lookout  Mountain.  I  think  the 
view  from  Lookout  worth  1,000  miles  travel.  The  high 
mountains  of  Western  North  Carolina,  and  the  Blue 
Mountains  of  Virginia  are  very  plainly  seen  from  the  sum- 
mit. There  is  a  summer  retreat,  some  40  or  50  nice  houses 
with  public  hall  and  school  on  top. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  March  15,  1864. 

I  am  again  on  court  martial  duty,  with  a  prospect  of  a 
long  siege ;  but  we  have  an  experienced  President  and 
a  Judge  Advocate  who  promises  to  be  a  fast  worker;  so 
we  may  get  through  quicker  than  we  anticipated.  The  Presi- 
dent, Colonel  Heath,  looth  Indiana,  is  a  Bob  Ingersoll  for 
the  world,  that  is,  full  of  anecdote  and  fond  of  malt.  'Tis 
probably  fortunate  that  at  this  time  none  of  the  latter  is 
to  be  had  in  our  division.  I  dislike  detached  service  in 
any  shape,  but  prefer  court  martial  duty  to  almost  any 
other.  Would  much  rather  be  with  my  company,  and  if 
it  were  not  considered  so  nix  military  would  ask  to  be 


2l8  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

relieved  from  this.  You  can't  imagine  how  proud  I  am 
becoming  of  my  company.  I  have  never  had  an  iota  of 
trouble  with  them.  We  certainly  work  as  smoothly  as  any 
company  could.  We  are  all  in  high  feather  over  the  pros- 
pect of  going  to  Richmond.  Everybody  wants  to  start 
immediately.  If  the  I5th  and  lyih  corps  reach  the 
Rapidan,  we  doubt  your  hearing  anything  more  about 
recrossing  the  Rapidan  and  taking  positions  inside  the 
Washington  fortifications.  Our  corps  don't  get  along  well 
with  these  Cumberland  and  Potomac  soldiers.  To  hear 
our  men  talk  to  them  when  passing  them  or  their  camps 
marching,  you'd  think  the  feeling  between  us  and  the 
Rebels  could  be  no  more  bitter.  We  are  well  off  by  our- 
selves, but  still  we  don't  feel  at  home.  We're  too  far  from 
our  old  comrades,  I3th,  i6th  and  I7th  Corps.  This  feeling 
that  grows  up  between  regiments,  brigades,  divisions  and 
corps  is  very  strong  and  as  strange.  The  4th  and  I4th 
Corps  Cumberland  chaps  our  men  can  endure,  although 
much  in  the  spirit  a  dog  chewing  a  bone,  allows  another 
to  come  within  ten  feet.  The  nth  and  I2th  Corps  Poto- 
mac men,  and  ours  never  meet  without  some  very  hard 
talk.  I  must  do  the  Yankees  the  justice  to  say  that  our 
men,  I  believe,  always  commence  it,  and  are  the  most  un- 
gentlemanly  by  great  odds.  I  do  honestly  think  our  corps 
in  one  respect  composed  of  the  meanest  set  of  men,  that 
was  ever  thrown  together.  That  is,  while  on  the  march 
they  make  it  a  point  to  abuse  every  man  or  thing  they  see. 
They  always  feel  "bully,"  will  certainly  march  further  with 
less  straggling,  and  make  more  noise  whooping  than  any 
other  corps  in  service,  but  if  a  strange  soldier  or  citizen 
conies  in  sight,  pity  him,  and  if  he's  foolish  enough  to  ask  a 
question,  as  "what  regiment,"  or  "where  are  you  bound  for?" 
he'll  wish  himself  a  mile  under  ground  before  he  hears  all  the 
answers,  and  ten  to  one  not  a  whit  of  the  information  he 
asked  for  will  be  in  any  of  them.  We  have  no  pay  yet, 
and  no  prospects  now,  but  doing  good  business  borrowing. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2IQ 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  March  12,  1864. 

I  have  been  tremendously  demoralized  for  nearly  a  month 
in  consequence  of  a  terrible  cold  I  caught  by  some  of  my  care- 
lessness, I  suppose,  but  am  now  coming  out  of  it  all  right. 
Weather  is  most  beautiful.  Not  too  much  duty,  excellent 
camp,  remarkably  good  health,  and  everything  so  near  right, 
that  almost  think  a  soldier  who'd  grumble  here  deserves  shoot- 
ing. Were  I  disposed  to  complain  am  sure  I  could  only  find 
two  little  topics  whereof  to  speak;  one  being  the  fact  that 
'tis  impossible  to  get  anything  to  eat  here  excepting  regular 
army  rations,  not  even  hams  can  be  had,  and  the  other  the 
long-continued  absence  of  the  paymaster.  We  are  hoping 
that  both  these  matters  will  be  remedied  'ere  long,  but  have 
been  so  hoping  for  months.  We  have  a  division  purveyor 
now,  who  pretends  that  he  will  furnish  us  in  good  eatables. 
We  have  had  but  a  few  articles  from  him,  and  I'll  tell  you  the 
prices  of  those  I  remember.  Can  of  strawberries,  $1.75; 
cheese,  80  cents  a  pound;  bottle  (about  one  and  one-half 
pints)  pickled  beets,  $1.50.  If  I  could  draw  the  pay  of  a  brig- 
adier general,  and  then  live  on  half  rations,  think  I  might  come 
out  even  with  said  purveyor  for  my  caterer. 

Everything  perfectly  stagnant.  We  did  hear  day  before 
yesterday  some  quite  rapid  artillery  firing  for  an  hour  or  two ; 
it  sounded  as  though  it  might  have  been  some  ten  or  twelve 
miles  southwest  of  us.  'Twas  reported  by  scouts  a  few  days 
ago  that  the  enemy  was  preparing  flatboats  at  Guntersville 
to  cross  the  river  on,  with  intent  to  make  a  raid  up  in  this 
direction  or  toward  Huntsville.  The  I5th  Michigan  Mounted 
Infantry  was  sent  down  to  look  after  the  matter,  ran 
into  an  ambuscade  and  lost  a  dozen  or  so  killed  and 
wounded.  That's  all  I  heard  of  the  matter.  We  were  very 
sorry  that  the  loss  was  so  light,  for  they  are  a  miserable  set. 
We  are  going  to  have  a  dance  here  in  a  few  days.  Think 
I'll  go.  Anything  at  all  to  get  out  of  camp.  I'm  as  restless 
as  a  tree  top  after  marching  so  much.  You  don't  know  how 
tame  this  camp  business  is.  Am  afraid  I  will  get  the  "blues" 
yet.  Hurry  up  the  spring  campaign,  I  say. 


22O  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  March  20,  1864. 

What  under  the  sun  can  I  tell  you  that  will  interest  you. 
That  it  is  intolerably  dull,  bah!  Have  just  had  a  long  visit 
from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wright,  now  army  assistant  inspector 
general  of  the  division,  and  Lieutenant  Van  Dyke,  A.  D.  C., 
to  our  new  commander,  General  Harrow.  The  lieutenant  is 
a  splendid  looking  fellow  of  about  23  years,  and  has  served 
up  to  the  time  of  coming  into  our  division  with  the  2d  Corps, 
Army  Potomac.  Van  Dyke  informed  me  that  a  despatch  from 
Logan  was  received  by  Harrow  this  a.  m.,  informing  him  that 
Forrest  was  prowling  around  on  the  other  side  of  the  river 
with  intention  of  crossing  and  making  a  little  dash  on  some 
part  of  our  line.  "Our"  railroad  from  Nashville  via  Decatur 
is  about  completed  (will  be  finished  to-morrow)  and  then 
we  hope  to  have  something  to  eat  once  more.  This  rail- 
road will  be  all  for  our  corps,  or  at  least  we  will  get  the 
choice  of  what  comes  over  it.  We  are  at  outs  with  the 
general  to-day.  In  the  field  we  are  not  accustomed  to 
having  camp  guard,  considering  a  strong  picket  and  the 
regular  property  alarm  guards  sufficient.  But  because  two 
or  three  men  got  drunk  yesterday,  and  a  gun  or  two  was 
fired,  out  comes  Harrow  in  an  order  and  requires  a  strong 
camp  guard.  It  may  be  one  of  the  faults  of  our  discipline, 
but  'tis  a  fact  that  our  men  would  much  prefer  two  days 
of  any  other  duty,  to  one  of  camp  guard.  Our  court  gets 
on  slowly.  Oh !  We  had  a  dance  a  few  nights  since. 
Northern  ladies,  officers'  wives,  and  a  few  "Mountain 
Ewes"  (the  poetical  name  given  the  Jackson  county  beau- 
ties by  some  genius  of  a  Yankee).  We  really  had  a 
delightful  time;  and  I  understand  they  are  to  be  continued, 
one  every  two  weeks  Anything  to  keep  a  man  from 
getting  blue.  I  see  Abraham  calls  for  200,000  more. 
Keep  asking  for  them  Lincoln,  that's  right,  I'm  sure 
there  are  yet  many  who  can  be  spared  for  their  country's 
good  in  more  meanings  than  one.  It's  queer  that  our  regi- 
ment don't  get  more  recruits.  We  need  them  very  much, 
and  yet  I  dread  getting  them,  they  are  so  much  trouble 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  221 

for  a  year.  The  26th  and  48th  Illinois  have  respectively 
200  and  500  and  the  officers  are  bored  terribly  over  them. 
There  is  to  my  eye,  as  much  difference  between  the  aver- 
age of  recruits  and  the  average  of  veterans,  as  there  is  between 
the  physique  of  a  tailor  and  that  of  a  blacksmith.  Some 
of  the  veterans  who  have  returned  to  camp,  are  sick  of 
their  last  bargain  with  the  United  States,  but  the  majority 
are  right  glad  to  get  back. 

Scottsboro,  Ala,  March  24,  1864. 

Two  months  and  twenty-four  days  without  changing 
camp;  which  is  the  longest  time  our  tents  have  covered 
one  piece  of  ground  since  we  organized.  We  have 
marched,  though,  some  35  days  during  this  time,  and  some  such 
marching.  Whew !  I  think  I  never  suffered  on  a  march  as 

1  did   on   the   Sand   Mountain   in   DeKalb  county.     I   wore 
a  thin  blouse,  and  had  no  overcoat.     I'd  lie  so  close  to  the 
fire  nights  that  the  clothes  on  my  back  would  scorch  and 
my  breath  would  freeze  on  my  whiskers.    We  had  nothing 
to  keep  the  freezing  dews  off  us,  and  it  seemed  to  me 
that  it   went   through    my   clothes   and    an    inch   of   flesh 
before   the   dew-point   would   be   blunted.     One   night   about 

2  o'clock  I  had  a  huge  pine  knot  fire  and  was  trying  to 
warm  some  half  frozen  portions  of  my  body,  when  Cap- 
tain Smith  came  over  from  his  bed,  as  blue  as  a  conscript, 
to  thaw  out.     He  turned  one  side  and  then  t'other  to  the 
blaze,  time  and  again  but  without  much  progress ;  finally 
he   shivered  out,  "By  G — d,   Captain,   I  could  wish  a  tribe 
of  cannibals  no  worse  luck  than  to  get  me  for  breakfast. 
I'm  frozen  hard  enough  to  break  out  half  their  teeth,  and 
the  frost  would  set  the  rest  aching."    Next  morning  a  lot 
of  us  were   standing  by  a  fire  nearly  all  grumbling,   when 
the  major  asked  me  how  I  passed  the  night.     "Capitally, 
slept  as  sweetly  as  an  infant,  little  chilly  in  fore  part  of 
night,  but  forgot  it  when  sleep  came."     They  looked  so 
pitifully,  doubtfully  envious,  that  I  got  me  laugh  enough 
to  warm  me  clear  through.    Captain  Smith,  Soot  and  Lieu- 


222  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

tenant  Ansley  have  been  in  with  me  playing  old  sledge 
all  evening.  A  storm  came  up,  blew  half  of  my  camp  house 
down,  and  broke  up  the  party.  Have  just  got  fixed  up 
again.  Those  pine  knot  fires  we  had  on  the  mountains, 
made  us  all  look  like  blacksmiths.  Day  before  yesterday 
a  foot  of  snow  fell.  Last  night  only  drifts  on  the  north 
side  of  things  were  left  and  to-night  you  have  to  hunt  for 
a  flake.  Two  shots  on  the  picket  line  back  of  our  camp. 
Guess  it's  some  of  the  26th  or  48th  recruits.  Out  of  every 
dozen  or  twenty  recruits,  there's  sure  to  be  one  who  will 
see  men  skulking  around  his  picket  post,  and  who  will  shoot 
a  stump. 

Six- thirty  a.  m.  25th. — Bless  me,  how  it  rained  and  blew 
last  night.  Do  you  remember  the  storm  at  Point  Pleasant, 
Mo.,  April  i,  1862?  Never  a  high  wind  that  I  do  not  think 
of  it.  Believe  we  had  two  killed,  about  a  dozen  disabled 
and  20  horses  killed.  No  paymaster  yet. 

Goldsboro,   N.  C,  March  25,   1864. 

We  were  two  days  coming  back  here  from  Bennettsville ; 
and  have  Sherman's  receipt  for  another  campaign  and  his 
promise  of  a  little  rest.  Have  a  nice  camp  ground  and  will 
enjoy  ourselves,  I  think. 

Huntsville,  Ala.,  April  3,  1864. 

Thunder,  lightning  and  rain  are  having  a  little  time  by 
themselves  outdoors  to-night.  No  audience,  but  guards  and 
government  mules,  but  that  don't  seem  to  affect  the  show. 
We  have  a  right  good  hotel  here,  a  rather  lively  party,  and 
have  spent  a  pleasant,  highly  gaseous  evening,  Colonel  Oglesby, 
Dr.  Morris  and  Captain  Wilkinson  of  our  division. 
We  came  down  on  two  days'  leave,  principally  to  see  the 
place,  but  all  having  more  or  less  business.  Found  Will 
Trites  this  a.  m. ;  dined  with  him,  and  this  afternoon  four  of 
us  have  been  riding.  I  enjoyed  it  very  much.  Had  good 
horses,  and  'tis  a  beautiful  town.  I  think  the  finest  I  have  seen 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  223 

South;  but  nothing  near  what  Decatur,  Bloomington,  Quincy 
and  a  dozen  other  Illinois  towns  promise  to  be  when  they 
have  half  its  age.  In  the  cemetery  there  are  as  many  really 
fine  monuments  as  there  were  in  the  Chicago  cemetery  in 
1859,  and  should  think  it  not  more  than  half  the  size  of  the 
new  Canton  graveyard.  Our  soldiers  have  been  registering 
their  names  on  the  finest  of  the  monuments.  It  looks  so  sac- 
rilegious, and  fully  as  ridiculous.  They  have  a  beautiful  cus- 
tom here  of  placing  wreaths  of  flowers  and  bouquets  upon  the 
graves.  This  p.  m.  (Sabbath)  nearly  every  grave  had  one 
or  more  such  offerings.  I  attended  the  Presbyterian  church 
this  a.  m.,  and  certainly  never  heard  the  English  language  so 
abused  before.  The  minister  was  a  citizen.  Did  not  by  a 
word  allude  to  the  war  in  sermon  or  prayers.  Most  of  the 
ladies  wore  mourning.  Very  full  attendance  of  them.  All 
who  refused  the  "oath"  here,  have  been  sent  across  the  river. 
Saw  General  McPherson  at  breakfast  this  morning  looking 
as  of  old.  We  were  paid  four  months  last  Thursday. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  April  9,  1864. 

Don't  be  alarmed  and  imagine  that  I  have  "photos"  on  the 
brain.  This  is  in  all  probability  the  last  remittance  of  the 
article  that  I  shall  make  you.  General  Corse,  our  old  brigade 
commander,  we  think  a  great  deal  of,  and  would  like  to  have 
you  preserve  his  picture.  The  little  soldier,  Johnny  Clem, 
was  a  sergeant  at  the  time  of  the  Chickamauga  battle,  and 
fought  like  a  hero.  His  comrades  say  he  killed  a  Rebel  offi- 
cer of  high  rank  there.  For  his  gallant  conduct  in  that  mas- 
sacre, General  Thomas  gave  him  a  lieutenancy  and  position 
on  his  staff,  where  he  now  is.  He  is  almost  a  perfect  image 
of  one,  Willie  Blackburn,  who  was  my  orderly  in  the  7th. 

The  day  of  jubilee  has  come  at  this  post;  that  is,  we  have, 
once  more,  something  fit  to  eat.  This  is  the  first  day  since 
we've  been  here  that  our  commissary  has  furnished  us  with 
aught  but  regular  rations.  We  can  wish  for  nothing  now, 
except  "marching  orders."  My  men  are  in  splendid  condi- 
tion. Everyone  of  them  in  Ai  health  and  spirits.  All  the 


224  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

veterans  of  the  division  are  back,  except  the  three  regiments 
of  our  brigade.  The  55th  Illinois  has  at  last  concluded  to 
veteran.  Two  hundred  of  them  will  be  at  home  shortly. 
They  held  a  new  election,  left  Malmsberg  and  Chandler  out 
in  the  cold,  and  I  understand,  a  goodly  number  of  their  best 
officers  besides.  Men  who  have  not  been  under  good  discipli- 
narians, will  almost  invariably,  if  an  election  is  allowed, 
choose  good  fellows  for  officers.  That  is,  men  who  allow 
everything  to  go  at  loose  ends,  who  have  no  business  what- 
ever with  commissions.  Captain  Milt.  Hainey  and  Captain 
Augustine,  I  understand,  are  to  be  colonel  and  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  55th.  They  are  said  to  be  good  men  and  offi- 
cers, and  exceptions  to  the  above,  but  my  experience  is  such 
exceptions  are  rare,  and  I'd  rather  time  would  prove  them 
than  man's  words.  I  believe  my  company  would  veteran,  al- 
most unanimously,  to-day.  I  am  still  on  court-martial  duty, 
and  having  a  very  easy  time.  We  seldom  sit  over  two  hours, 
and  never  more  than  four  hours  a  day.  The  most  of  the 
cases  are  for  desertion,  and  absence  without  leave,  with  oc- 
casionally a  shooting  or  cutting  affair  among  some  drunken 
men.  The  major  and  several  of  the  other  officers  are  ab- 
sent at  Nashville  on  a  shopping  excursion.  Captain  Wyskoff 
is  commanding.  He  has  been  trying  for  the  last  eight  months 
to  resign,  but  papers  come  back  every  time  disapproved.  It's 
hard  work  now  to  get  out  of  the  army.  By  a  few  items  I 
have  seen  in  the  papers,  believe  the  i/th  Army  Corps  is  com- 
ing up  the  river.  Wish  they  would  be  sent  here.  We  need 
another  corps  to  move  with  us  on  to  Rome.  Suppose  that 
Grant  thinks  he  must  have  the  i/th  with  him  at  Richmond. 
Operations  cannot  possibly  commence  here  for  25  days  yet. 
Wish  we  could  move  to-morrow.  Colonel  Wright  and  I  were 
out  a  few  miles  this  p.  m.  to  see  a  couple  of  maidens.  While 
we  were  enjoying  our  visit  a  party  of  excited  citizens  (all 
liable  to  the  Southern  conscription)  rush  in,  and  kindly  in- 
vite us  to  go  down  to  Fossets'  in  the  bottom,  and  clean  out  a 
half  dozen  "guerils"  who  were  there  after  conscripts.  Twas 
only  a  half  mile  through  the  woods  to  Fossets'  and  that  was 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  22$ 

closer  than  we  wanted  to  be  to  such  a  party  (we  had  no  arms). 
So  we  told  the  excited  citizens  that  they  and  the  guerillas 

could  all  go  to  the  d 1  and  we'd  go  to  camp.     Within  a 

mile  of  camp  we  met  a  company  on  the  way  to  look  for  the 
Rebels,  but  I  know  they  might  as  well  look  for  a  religious 
chaplain  in  the  army  as  for  the  Rebels  in  that  swamp.  There 
is  hardly  a  sign  of  spring  here  yet.  Have  certainly  never  seen 
vegetation  as  far  advanced  North  at  this  season  as  it  is  here 
now.  Need  a  fire  every  day.  The  last  month  has  been  colder 
than  January  was.  I  met  a  woman  to-day  who  prides  herself  on 
belonging  to  one  of  the  first  families  of  Virginia  and  boasts 
that  her  grandsire's  plantation  and  George  Washington's  al- 
most joined,  and  showed  me  a  negro  woman  no  years  old, 
that  formerly  waited  upon  George  Washington.  She  claims 
to  be  chivalry,  par  excellence.  Her  husband  is  in  the  Rebel 
Army.  She  lives  off  of  the  United  States  Commissary  De- 
partment, and  begs  her  chewing  tobacco  of  United  States 
soldiers.  She's  a  Rebel,  and  talks  it  with  her  mouth  full  of 
Uncle  Sam's  bread  and  bacon. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  April  24,   1864. 

Spring  is  here  at  last,  and  summer  is  almost  in  sight. 
The  last  two  days  have  been  fully  as  warm  as  I  care  to 
see  weather  in  April.  There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  cold, 
wet  weather  here  this  spring,  and  vegetable  life  is  unusu- 
ally backward ;  but  the  last  few  days  have  effected  a  great 
change  in  the  forests.  The  north  side  of  the  mountains 
still  look  bare  and  wintry,  the  soft  maple  being  the  only 
tree  I  have  noticed  "in  leaf"  on  those  slopes ;  but  nearly 
all  of  the  trees  and  bushes  on  the  southern  mountain 
slopes  are  in  full  leaf.  In  the  valleys,  the  poplars,  the 
beeches,  and  the  black  gums  are  nearly  in  full  spring 
dress,  being  far  in  advance  of  their  comrades — the  oaks, 
chestnuts,  hickories  and  white  gum.  Of  the  smaller  trees 
the  dogwood  leads  in  assuming  a  spring  costume.  Two 
years  ago  this  date,  vegetation  was  further  advanced  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  than  'tis  here  now.  Do  you  remem- 


226  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

her,  I  arrived  home  just  about  two  years  ago  this  time; 
stayed  two  and  one  half  days,  and  then,  for  Corinth  ?  How 
easily  my  three  years  in  the  army  have  made  way  with 
themselves.  That  I  have  lived  something  over  a  thousand 
days,  in  a  blue  uniform  seems  incredible.  Six  months 
sounds  much  more  reasonable.  "Black  Jack"  reviewed  our 
division  yesterday.  Only  eight  of  the  13  regiments  could 
be  present;  but  'twas  the  finest  review  I  ever  saw.  Logan 
rode  through  our  camp,  and  expressed  himself  much 
pleased  at  our  way  of  keeping  house.  We  have  a  beauti- 
ful camp,  every  part  of  it  cleanly  swept  every  morning. 
It  is  also  decorated  profusely  with  evergreens  from  the 
mountains.  I  suppose  it  is  unnecessary  to  tell  you  what 
we  killed  in  the  deerhunt,  I  spoke  of  in  my  last,  as  in  pros- 
pect ;  but  we  did  have  a  power  of  fun.  Colonel  Young,  the 
citizen  who  proposed  the  party  to  me,  is  probably  some 
55  years  old;  and  at  heart  a  Rebel  (he  is  now  a  member  of 
the  Alabama  Legislature)  but  has  taken  the  oath.  I 
noticed  a  suspicious  "auburn"  tinge  on  his  nose,  and  pro- 
vided myself  with  a  canteen  of  pure  lightning  commissary 
whiskey.  The  colonel  had  tasted  none  of  the  ardent  for  a 
long  time,  and  his  thirst  was  excessive.  He  became  in- 
tensely demoralized ;  and  proved  the  most  amusing  char- 
acter of  the  party.  He  made  us  a  speech,  and  committed 
so  many  fooleries,  that  if  he  had  been  anything  but  a 
Rebel,  I  would  have  been  ashamed  of  myself  for  my  part 
in  his  fall.  Captains  Wyckoff  and  Brown  received  orders 
yesterday  accepting  their  tenders  of  resignation,  and  have 
started  home.  Lieutenant  Worley  has  been  detached  to 
the  Signal  Corps.  He  is  worthy  of  it.  We  (the  whole 
corps)  received  orders  this  morning  to  prepare  for  the  field 
immediately.  The  order  is  from  McPherson  and  says : 
"Not  one  tent  will  be  taken  into  the  field,  only  two  wagons 
will  be  allowed  the  regiment,  one  for  the  officers  and  one 
for  the  cooking  utensils  of  the  men."  That  is  coming 
down  pretty  low.  Three  years  ago  we  had  13  wagons  to 
each  regiment.  Two  years  ago  eight,  one  year  ago  'twas 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  227 

reduced  to  six,  and  now  to  two.  What  will  it  be  next? 
Captain  Sid.  writes  that  two  divisions  of  our  corps  will 
be  left  on  this  line  of  railroad  to  guard  it  this  summer.  I 
think  ours  and  Morgan  L.  Smith's  will  probably  be  the 
two ;  but  'tis  hard  to  tell.  I  would  for  my  part  much  rather 
march;  if  we  do  march,  I  have  no  doubt  our  course  will 
be  what  I  have  before  told  you,  Larkin's  Landing,  Lebanon 
and  Rome,  Ga.  They  have  made  a  change  in  our  artillery. 
Two  batteries  now  accompany  each  division,  and  the  rest 
goes  into  an  artillery  reserve,  a  corps  organization.  You 
remember  that  I  told  you  that  the  1,500  horses  we  foraged 
in  this  country  would  be  dead  loss  to  the  government. 
Our  authorities  fed  them  all  winter,  and  this  last  week  an  order 
came  to  give  them  back  to  the  citizens.  Remember  they 
have  all  been  paid  for.  But  they  are  of  no  account  to  the 
army,  and  'tis  the  best  thing  that  can  now  be  done  with  them. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  April  18,  1864. 

No  changes  to  note  in  the  military  situation  of  our  por- 
tion of  Dixie,  but  the  note  of  preparation  is  heard  on  every 
side.  All  making  ready  for  the  Spring  campaign,  which 
every  one  prophesies  will  be  the  bloodiest  one  of  the  war. 
Johnston  is  undoubtedly  collecting  all  the  Rebel  troops  in 
the  West,  on  the  Georgia  Central  R.  R.  and  will  have  a 
large  force.  But  ours  will  be  perfectly  enormous.  Not 
one  of  our  regiments  but  is  stronger  to-day  than  a  year  ago, 
and  many  divisions  number  from  one-third  to  three- 
quarters  more  than  then.  Our  division  when  we  marched 
through  from  Memphis  last  fall  was  hardly  4,500  (for 
duty)  strong.  Now  'tis  7,000,  and  growing  every  day. 
We  have  no  doubt  of  our  ability  to  whip  Johnston  most 
completely,  but  if  he  can  raise  70,000  men,  and  we  think 
he  can,  of  course  somebody  will  stand  a  remarkably  good 
chance  for  being  hurt  in  the  proceedings.  He  has  crossed 
a  division  of  infantry,  away  off  on  our  right,  beyond  Elk 
river.  'Tis  hard  to  tell  what  for.  Maybe  to  cooperate 
with  Forrest.  Certainly  to  forage  some,  and  some  think 


228  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

possibly  to  attract  our  attention  in  that  direction  while  he 
makes  a  dash  on  our  lines  east  of  Huntsville.  This  latter 
would,  to  my  idea,  be  akin  to  the  action  of  that  youth 
Harper  represents  in  his  "April,"  standing  on  his  head  on 
the  railroad  track,  six  feet  before  the  locomotive  under 
way:  "Rash."  Twenty- four  years  old  yesterday,  and 
three  years  in  the  service.  Celebrated  the  day  by 
calling  on  a  good  looking  "mountain  ewe,"  and  dining  there- 
with. Made  arrangements  to  have  a  deer  and  turkey  hunt 
with  her  papa  and  some  of  his  friends,  Colonel  Cobb, 
(formerly  of  United  States  Congress)  among  others.  To 
give  you  an  idea  of  the  Southern  love  for  titles,  I'll  name 
part  of  the  citizens  who  help  to  form  our  party  next  Wed- 
nesday. Colonel  Cobb,  Colonel  Provinse,  Colonel  Young, 
and  Majors  Hall  and  Hust.  Every  man  who  owns  as  many 
as  two  negroes  is  at  least  a  colonel.  None  of  them  rank  as 
low  as  captains.  Spring  is  coming  very  slowly.  At  least 
four  weeks  behind  time.  Trees  are  becoming  quite  ver- 
dant, and  many  of  the  flowers  are  up.  I  would  like  to  send 
you  a  few  haunches  of  nice  venison  after  my  hunt,  but 
expect,  all  things  considered,  'twould  hardly  be  worth  while 
to  try.  Heard  to-day  of  the  wedding  of  one  of  my  most 
particularest  friends,  a  young  lady  of  Decatur.  Was  sensi- 
ble enough  to  marry  a  soldier ;  but  am  not  certain  she  got 
the  right  one.  Heaven  help  her. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  April  28,  1864. 

We  received  marching  orders  last  night,  and  will  proba- 
bly move  to-morrow  morning.  Supposition  is  that  we  go 
to  Huntsville  first,  there  store  our  baggage,  and  then  cross 
the  Tennessee  river  and  open  the  Spring  campaign.  I  am 
much  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  moving  once  more.  Have 
never  been  so  well  and  comfortably  situated  in  the  army, 
nor  was  I  ever  tired  of  lying  still.  Lieutenant  Miller 
R.  Q.  M.  while  hunting  some  mules  a  few  miles  from  camp, 
last  Monday  was  captured  by  the  enemy,  and  is  now  on  his 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  22Q 

way  to  the  "Hotel  de  Libby"  (not)  rejoicing.  'Tis  some- 
thing of  a  joke  on  Miller.  Weather  is  becoming  most 
uncomfortably  warm.  Altogether  too  hot  for  marching. 
Boys  of  our  regiment  and  troops  of  the  whole  corps,  never 
started  on  a  march  in  better  spirits.  Will  write  as  often  as 
have  opportunities.  Swarms  of  flies  interfere  with  my  after- 
noon naps  lately. 


230  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 


V. 

April  30,  1864  to  August  24,  1864.  Under  marching  orders  at  last. 
"Mule  Soup"  and  cabin  smashing.  Guying  a  Potomac  general 
Playing  the  "cousin"  game  on  the  "cits."  Operations  around  Dalton 
and  Resaca.  Sherman's  advice  and  warning.  Lively  fighting  fol- 
lows. Kilpatrick  wounded.  Deploying  in  sight  of  the  Rebel  guns 
with  artillery  duel  going  on  overhead.  Digging  rifle  pits  fifty 
yards  from  the  enemy's  lines.  Resaca  captured.  Fight  at  Adairs- 
ville.  Planters  running  off  their  slaves.  General  Harrow  and  his 
"Potomac  horse."  A  dead  Rebel  colonel  in  a  garden  of  flowers. 
Heavy  fighting  near  Dallas.  Sustaining  a  Rebel  charge,  losing 
ten  men  out  of  thirty-one.  In  rifle  pits  under  storm  of  shot  and 
shell.  Logan's  inspiring  presence.  In  charge  of  brigade  skirmish 
line.  Moving  out  from  under  the  enemy's  guns.  Midnight  work 
in  the  trenches.  Nine  days  under  continuous  fire.  Pestered  by 
"chigres"  and  ants.  Storming  the  Rebel  rifle  pits  and  charging  a 
hill  manned  by  three  Rebel  regiments,  killing  100  and  capturing 
542.  Fighting  three  little  battles  in  three  days,  and  repulsing  two 
charges.  Battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Fighting  around  Atlanta 
and  on  the  banks  of  the  Chattahoochie.  Desperate  charge  on 
Rebel  works  across  a  ravine.  A  repulse  and  Colonel  Wright 
wounded.  Great  suffering  from  heat.  Battle  of  Atlanta  and  death 
of  McPherson.  Gruesome  incident  in  the  trenches.  Summary  of 
the  regiment's  record:  Battles  of  Vicksburg,  Black  River,  Jack- 
son, Mission  Ridge,  Dalton,  Resaca,  Dallas,  New  Hope,  Big  Shanty 
Kennesaw  Mountain  and  Atlanta.  Seventy-two  days  under  fire; 
300  have  fallen  in  defense  of  the  regimental  colors. 

Scottsboro,  Ala.,  April  3oth,  '64. 

You  know  we  have  been  under  marching  orders  for  several 
days.  At  dress  parade  this  evening  orders  were  read  notify- 
ing us  that  the  division  would  move  out  on  the  road  to  Chat- 
tanooga at  6  a.  m.,  May  ist. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  23! 

This  is  the  first  intimation  of  the  direction  we  would  take. 

It  surprises  me  very  much,  and  I  think  many  others.  I 
was  certain  we  would  either  cross  the  Tennessee  river  at  Lar- 
kins  Ferry  or  near  Decatur  and  take  Dalton  in  flank  or  rear, 
but  Sherman  didn't  see  it.  I  would  rather  do  anything  else 
save  one,  than  march  over  the  road  to  Chattanooga.  That 
one  is  to  lie  still  in  camp. 

When  the  boys  broke  ranks  after  the  parade,  cries  of  "mule 
soup"  filled  the  camp  for  an  hour.  That  is  the  name  that  has 
been  unanimously  voted  to  the  conglomeration  of  dead  mules 
and  mud  that  fills  the  ditches  on  the  roadside  between  Steven- 
son and  Chattanooga. 

The  whole  division  has  been  alive  all  evening;  burning 
cabins  has  been  the  fashion.  Captains  Post,  Smith  and  my- 
self got  into  a  little  discussion  which  ended  in  our  grabbing 
axes  and  demolishing  each  other's  cabins. 

May  ist,  1864. 

Bivouac  at  Mud  Creek.  Up  at  daylight,  and  off  on  time, 
6  a.  m.  The  camp  was  full  of  citizens  early,  all  after  our 
leavings.  The  way  they  did  snatch  for  old  clothes  was  far 
from  slow.  They  actually  stole  lots  of  trash  right  under  the 
noses  of  the  soldier  owners.  Out  "jayhawking"  old  jayhawk 
himself.  Started  off  in  best  of  spirits — men  cheering  right 
from  their  hearts.  About  two  miles  out  on  the  road,  General 
Harrow  and  staff  passed  us.  The  men  not  having  the  fear  of 
"guard  house"  in  their  minds,  yelled  at  him,  "Bring  out  your 
Potomac  horse,"  "Fall  back  on  your  straw  and  fresh  butter," 
"Advance  on  Washington,"  etc.,  all  of  which  counts  as  quite 
a  serious  offense,  but  he  paid  no  attention  to  it.  You  recollect 
he  is  from  the  Potomac  Army.  The  first  expression  conies 
from  a  punishment  he  inaugurated  in  our  division.  He  put 
up  a  wooden  horse  in  front  of  his  quarters,  and  mounted  on  it 
all  the  offenders  against  discipline  that  he  could  "gobble." 
Some  waggish  fellows  wrote  out  some  highly  displayed  ad- 
vertisements of  the  "Potomac  horse"  and  posted  them  through- 
out the  camp,  and  finally  one  night  the  men  took  it  down  and 


232  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

sent  it  on  the  cars  to  Huntsville,  directed  to  McPherson,  with 
a  note  tacked  on  it,  telling  him  to  furnish  him  plenty  of  straw 
and  use  him  carefully,  as  he  was  Potomac  stock  and  unused 
to  hardships. 

We  only  marched  some  ten  miles  to-day  and  have  a  splendid 
camping  ground.  Have  had  a  wash  in  a  mill  race  near  by. 

West  bank  of  Crow  Creek,  near  Stevenson, 

May  2d,  1864. 

Only  about  seven  miles  from  last  night's  camp,  but  will  have 
to  wait  until  to-morrow  to  build  a  bridge.  The  creek  is  some 
150  feet  wide.  Our  Pioneer  Corps  will  from  the  rough  put  a 
bridge  over  it  in  ten  hours,  that  is  to  be  passed  over  within 
the  next  three  days  by  800  wagons  and  100  cannon  of  our 
corps.  We  reached  here  about  9  this  a.  m.,  and  were  led  into 
a  very  large  field  of  prairie  grass,  standing  three  feet  high 
and  as  dry  as  tinder.  A  stiff  breeze  was  blowing  and  the  first 
fire  started  in  our  regiment  set  the  grass  in  our  front  on  a  per- 
fect rampage.  It  run  down  on  the  46th  Ohio,  and  such  a  grab- 
bing of  "traps"  and  scattering  was  never  before  seen,  but 
was  equaled  about  half  an  hour  afterwards  when  a  fire  set 
in  our  rear  came  sweeping  down  on  us.  We  threw  our  things 
out  on  the  bare  space  in  our  front  and  escaped  with  little  loss. 
My  drummer  had  his  coat,  cap,  drum  and  a  pet  squirrel 
burned,  and  a  number  of  ponchos  and  small  articles  were  also 
sent  up  in  smoke.  The  days  are  almost  like  summer,  but  the 
nights  are  rather  cool.  The  trees  are  about  in  full  leaf  and 
vermin  are  becoming  altogether  too  numerous.  Every  man  is 
a  vigilance  committee  on  the  wood-tick  question.  They  are 
worse  than  guerrillas  or  gray-backs.  On  an  ordinary  good 
"tick  day"  we  capture  about  ten  per  capita.  They  demoralize 
one  tremendously.  The  boys  did  some  good  work  fishing  in 
the  p.  m.,  catching  a  number  of  fine  bass,  etc. 

A  surgeon,  who  I  think  belongs  on  some  brigade  staff,  has 
been  stopping  at  nearly  every  house  visiting,  etc.,  and  then 
rides  past  us  to  his  place  in  front.  This  morning,  after  a  visit 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  233 

he  was  passing  our  regiment;  as  we  commenced  crossing  a 
little  stream  his  horse  got  into  a  hole  some  four  feet  deep, 
stumbled,  fell,  rolled  over,  and  liked  to  have  finished  the  doctor. 
He  was  under  both  water  and  horse.  The  boys  consoled  him 
with  a  clear  1,000  cheers,  groans,  and  sharp  speeches.  Any- 
thing short  of  death  is  a  capital  joke.  I  have  seen  them  make 
sport  of  a  man  lying  by  the  roadside  in  a  fit. 

Twelve  miles  east  of  Bridgeport,  May  3,  1864. 

Have  made  about  15  miles  to-day.  This  is  the  fourth  time 
I  have  been  over  the  same  ground,  have  ridden  over  it  five 
times.  This  is  the  first  time  I  ever  started  on  a  march  where 
real  judgment  was  used  in  breaking  the  men  in.  We  always 
before  made  from  15  to  25  miles  the  first  day  and  broke  down 
about  one-fourth  of  our  men.  This  time  you  see,  our  first  two 
day's  marches  were  short  and  the  15  miles  to-day  seemed  to 
affect  no  one.  I  hear  from  good  authority  here  that  Thomas  is 
in  Dalton,  after  some  heavy  skirmishing.  Everything  is  mov- 
ing to  the  front  here.  A  portion  of  the  I2th,  or  2Oth  Corps 
now,  is  just  ahead  of  us.  Morgan  L.  Smith  and  Osterhaus 
are  just  behind  us,  but  Logan  will  not  be  along  until  relieved 
by  some  other  troops. 

I  expect  Dodge,  with  some  6,000  of  the  i6th  Army  Corps, 
is  behind  us.  The  I7th  Army  Corps  was  coming  into  Hunts- 
ville  as  we  left. 

Camp  is  in  an  orchard,  and  apples  are  as  large  as  hazel  nuts 
and  we  make  sauce  of  them. 

Whiteside,  May  4,  1864. 

The  day's  march  has  been  much  more  pleasant  than  any  of 
us  expected.  Most  of  the  dead  mules  have  been  buried,  and 
the  road  much  improved,  especially  through  the  narrows.  We 
smelled  a  number  of  mules,  though,  after  all  the  improve- 
ments. This,  Whiteside,  is  like  Bridgeport,  a  portable  town, 
with  canvas  covers  and  clapboard  sides. 

The  boys  have  been  catching  some  nice  fish  in  a  little  stream 
by  our  camp  this  evening.  Made  about  15  miles  to-day. 


234  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Between  Chattanooga  and  Rossville,  May  5,  1864. 

It  has  been  a  very  warm  day,  and  the  16  miles  between  8 
a.  m.  and  4  p.  m.  counts  a  hard  march.  The  dust  in  many 
places  has  been  ankle  deep. 

We  again  crossed  the  point  of  old  Lookout.  I  think  since 
yesterday  morning  at  least  20  trains  loaded  with  troops  have 
passed  us  while  in  sight  of  the  railroad,  with  from  15  to  20 
cars  in  each  train. 

We  hear  to-day  that  Dalton  is  not  yet  ours,  but  Sherman 
only  waits  for  his  old  corps  before  attacking. 

Have  sent  everything  back  to  Chattanooga  to  store.  It 
is  estimated  that  we  will  have  over  100,000  men  at  Dalton  day 
after  to-morrow. 

Will  keep  a  diary  and  send  every  opportunity. 

Camp  at  "Gordon's  Mills,"  Ga.,  May  6,  1864. 

We  lay  in  camp  on  Chattanooga  creek,  two  and  one-fourth 
miles  this  side  of  Chattanooga,  until  II  this  morning,  waiting 
for  the  division  train  to  be  loaded  and  turning  the  bulk  of  our 
camp  and  garrison  equipage  over  to  the  corps  quartermaster 
to  store  for  us  until  we  return  from  this  campaign. 

We  have  cut  our  baggage  for  the  regiment  to  what  can  be 
put  in  three  wagons.  Of  course,  we  do  not  expect  to  find  any 
of  our  things  again  that  we  leave.  The  6th  Iowa  Veterans  re- 
joined us  last  night.  I  notice  that  all  these  veterans  come 
back  dressed  in  officer's  clothing.  They  have,  I  expect,  been 
putting  on  a  great  many  airs  up  North,  but  I  don't  know  who 
has  any  better  right.  The  last  four  miles  of  our  march  to- 
day has  been  through  the  west  edge  of  the  Chickamauga  bat- 
tlefield. I  believe  the  battle  commenced  near  these  mills  on 
our  right. 

It  is  supposed  that  we  are  moving  to  get  in  rear  of  Dalton. 
No  more  drumming  allowed,  so  I  suppose  we  are  getting  in 
the  vicinity  of  Rebels,  and  that  skirmishing  will  commence  in 
about  two  days.  The  Big  Crawfish  springs  near  the  mill  is 
only  second  to  the  one  that  supplies  Huntsville  with  water, 
neither  one  as  large  as  the  Tuscambia  spring,  but  much  more 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  235 

Beautiful.  General  Harrow  had  a  fuss  with  our  Company  A 
last  night.  He  struck  one  or  two  of  the  men  with  a  club  and 
put  the  lieutenant  (Willison)  under  arrest.  *  *  *  It  is  im- 
possible to  get  along  with  him.  We  heard  last  night  that  Grant 
had  crossed  the  Rapidan  in  four  places,  but  don't  know  where. 
We  know  nothing  about  what  is  going  on  here,  but  feel  cer- 
tain that  the  Rebels  will  get  a  tremendous  thrashing  if  they 
don't  move  promptly.  Marched  n  miles  to-day. 

Two  miles  south  of  the  Gordon's  Mills  crossing  of 
the  Chickamauga, 

May  7,  1864,  12  m. 

We  started  at  8  this  morning  and  made  this  by  n.  We  are 
now  waiting  for  two  or  more  divisions  of  the  i6th  Corps  to 
file  into  the  road  ahead  of  us.  I  think  they  are  coming  from 
Ringold.  A  circular  of  McPherson's  was  read  to  us  this 
morning  before  starting,  telling  us  we  were  about  to  engage 
the  enemy  and  giving  us  some  advice  about  charging,  meeting 
charges,  shooting  low,  and  telling  us  not  to  quit  out  lines  to 
carry  back  wounded,  etc.,  and  intimating  that  he  expected  our 
corps  to  occupy  a  very  warm  place  in  the  fight,  and  to  sustain 
the  fighting  reputation  of  the  troops  of  the  department  of  the 
Tennessee. 

The  men  talk  about  hoping  that  the  divisions  now  going 
ahead  will  finish  the  fighting  before  we  get  up,  but  I  honestly 
believe  they'd  all  rather  get  into  a  battle  than  not.  It  is  fun 
to  hear  these  veterans  talk.  I  guess  that  about  two-thirds  of 
them  got  married  when  they  were  home.  Believe  it  will  do 
much  toward  steadying  them  down  when  they  return  to  their 
homes.  They  almost  all  say  that  they  had  furlough  enough 
and  were  ready  to  start  back  when  their  30  days  were  up. 

It  is  hot  as  the  deuce;  two  of  our  men  were  sun  struck  at 
Lookout  Mountain  on  the  3rd. 

Dust  is  becoming  very  troublesome.  I  am  marching  in  a 
badly-fitting  pair  of  boots,  and  one  of  my  feet  is  badly  strained 
across  the  instep,  pains  me  a  good  deal  when  resting.  That 


236  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

and  my  sprained  wrist  make  me  almost  a  subject  for  the 
Invalid  Corps,  but  I  intend  to  carry  them  both  as  far  as  At- 
lanta, after  our  "Erring  Brethren,"  if  I  have  no  further  bad 
luck.  One  of  my  men,  when  he  rolled  up  his  blanket  this 
morning,  found  he  had  laid  on  a  snake,  and  killed  him — poor 
snake ! 

Near  LaFayette,  Ga.,  12  m.,  May  7,  1864. 
Have  just  got  into  camp  and  washed  my  face.  Four  divisions 
filing  into  the  road  ahead  of  us,  delayed  us  five  whole  hours, 
and  their  trains  have  made  us  seven  hours  marching  8  miles. 
Somebody  says  we  are  19  miles  from  Rome.  The  boys  have 
started  a  new  dodge  on  the  citizens.  One  of  my  men  told  me 
of  playing  it  last  night.  When  we  camped  for  the  night  he 
went  to  a  house  and  inquiring  about  the  neighbors  found  out 
one  who  had  relatives  North;  and  something  of  the  family 
history.  Then  he  called  on  this  party  and  represented  himself 
as  belonging  to  the  northern  branch  of  the  family,  got  to  kiss 
the  young  lady  cousins,  had  a  pleasant  time  generally,  and  re- 
turned with  his  haversack  full  of  knicknacks,  and  the  pictures 
of  his  cousins,  with  whom  he  had  promised  to  correspond.  At 
one  house  on  the  road  to-day  10  or  12  women  had  congregated 
to  see  the  troops  pass.  An  officer  stopped  at  the  house  just 
as  our  regiment  came  up,  and  the  boys  commenced  yelling  at 
him,  "Come  out  of  that,  Yank;"  you  could  have  heard  them 
two  miles.  Never  saw  a  man  so  mortified.  Colonel  Wright 
tells  me  we  are  about  seven  miles  from  the  Rebels  at  some 
ridge.  We  will  get  into  position  to-morrow  and  fight  next 
day — that  is,  they  would,  if  I  were  not  present.  We  camped 
in  a  "whale"  of  a  sweet  potato  patch,  and  the  boys  have  about 
dug  up  the  seed  and  gobbled  it. 

May  8,  1864,  1 130  a.  m. 

Have  about  given  up  the  train  before  daylight,  so  will  curl 
down  and  take  a  cool  snooze,  minus  blankets.  Made  1 1  miles 
to-day.. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  237 

Fifteen  miles  southwest  of  Dalton,  May  8,  1864. 
We  traveled  to-day  over  a  better  country  than  I  have  seen 
for  five  months ;  the  Yanks  were  never  seen  here  before.  All 
the  negroes  and  stock  have  been  run  off.  A  little  shooting 
commenced  in  the  front  to-day,  and  we  passed  a  deserted  sig- 
nal station  and  picket  post.  Saw  some  Rebels  on  a  mountain 
south  of  us  just  before  we  went  into  camp.  Dispatch  came  to 
Sherman  this  p.  m.  that  Grant  had  whipped  Lee  three  succes- 
sive days.  Our  fight  will  come  off  to-morrow.  I  entertain  no 
doubt  as  to  the  result.  They  have  cut  us  down  to  three-quarter 
rations  of  bread  and  one-fourth  rations  of  meat. 

Seven  miles  west  of  Resaca,  15  miles  from  Dalton, 

May  9,  1864. 

Yesterday  we  traveled  southeast,  crossing  six  or  seven 
ridges,  one  or  two  of  which  were  quite  high.  Taylor's  was  the 
highest.  To-day  we  have  made  only  about  eight  miles  all  the 
way  through  a  pass  in  Rocky  Face  ridge,  which  is  a  high  moun- 
tain. There  are  four  divisions  ahead  of  us.  A  regiment  of 
Kentucky  cavalry  (Rebel)  slipped  in  between  ours  and  the  di- 
vision ahead  of  us,  trying  to  capture  a  train.  The  Qth  Illinois 
Infantry  had  the  advance  of  our  division  and  killed  30  Rebels 
and  took  four  prisoners,  losing  only  one  man  killed  and  their 
lieutenant  colonel  slightly  wounded.  Pretty  good.  Dodge  has 
got  the  railroad  and  broken  it,  so  we  hear.  The  fight  seems  to 
be  a  stand-off  until  to-morrow.  We  are  in  line  of  battle  for 
the  first  time  on  the  trip,  and  the  ordnance  train  is  ahead  of  the 
baggage.  Just  saw  an  officer  from  the  front  (your  letter  of 
the  3d  of  April  received  this  minute)  ;  he  says  Dodge  is  within 
a  mile  of  Resaca,  and  driving  the  enemy,  and  will  have  the 
town  by  dark.  Has  not  cut  the  railroad  yet.  This  officer  saw 
a  train  arrive  from  Dalton,  with  some  2,500  Rebel  troops 
aboard.  McPherson  and  Logan  are  both  on  the  field.  Some 
Rebel  prisoners  taken  to-day  say  they  intend  making  this  a 
Chickamauga  to  us.  Have  a  nice  camp.  There  is  some  little 
forage  here,  but  it  is  nothing  for  the  number  of  troops  we  have. 


238  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Same  camp,  May  10,  1864. 

The  9th  Illinois  Infantry  lost  about  30  men,  killed,  wounded 
and  missing,  yesterday.  We  find  the  enemy  too  strong  on  the 
railroad  to  take,  but  have  succeeded  in  breaking  it  so  no  trains 
can  pass.  Gerry's  division,  of  the  2oth  Corps,  came  up  at 
dark,  and  the  rest  of  the  corps  is  within  supporting  distance. 
Rations  were  issued  to  us  this  evening — one-ninth  rations  of 
meat  for  three  days  just  made  a  breakfast  for  the  men.  More 
rumors  are  flying  than  would  fill  a  ream  of  foolscap.  We  had 
orders  this  p  .m.  to  march  to  the  front  at  2  p.  m.,  but  did  not 
go. 

Six  miles  from  Resaca,  May  n,  1864. 

We  had  a  real  hurricane  last  night,  and  a  tremendous 
rain-storm.  We  lay  right  in  the  woods,  and  of  course 
thought  of  the  Point  Pleasant  storm  and  falling  trees,  but 
were  too  lazy  to  move,  and  thanks  to  a  bed  of  pine  boughs, 
slept  good  and  sound.  There  is  a  scare  up  this  morning. 
We  have  moved  a  mile  toward  the  front,  and  building 
breast-works  is  going  on  with  the  greatest  life.  A  full 
1,000  axes  are  ringing  within  hearing.  Our  division  is 
drawn  up  in  column  by  brigade  and  at  least  another  divi- 
sion is  in  rear  of  us.  The  latest  rumor  is  that  "the  railroad 
has  surrendered  with  40,000  depots," 

May  I2th. — We  are  in  just  such  a  camp  as  I  was  in  once 
near  Jacinto,  Miss.  Hills,  hollows  and  splendid  pines. 
Pine  knots  can  be  picked  up  by  the  bushel,  and  the  pitch 
smoke  will  soon  enable  us  to  pass  for  members  of  the 
"Corps  d'Afrique."  I  am  perfectly  disgusted  with  this 
whole  business.  Everything  I  have  written  down  I  have 
had  from  the  Division  Staff,  and  that  without  pumping. 
I  am  beginning  to  believe  that  there  is  no  enemy  anywhere 
in  the  vicinity,  and  that  we  are  nowhere  ourselves,  and 
am  sure  that  the  generals  do  not  let  the  staff  of  our  divi- 
sion know  anything.  The  railroad  was  not  cut  at  daylight 
this  morning,  for  I  heard  a  train  whistle  and  rattle  along 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  239 

it.  I  do  know  for  certain  that  we  are  putting  up  some  huge 
works  here,  and  that  they  run  from  mountain  to  mountain 
across  this  gorge. 

Still  in  Snake  Creek  Gap,  May  13,  1864. 
Moved  forward  a  half  mile  and  our  regiment  built  a 
strong  line  of  log  works.  We  have  had  a  perfect  rush  of 
generals  along  the  line  to-day:  Hooker,  Sickles,  McPher- 
son,  Thomas,  Palmer,  Sherman  and  a  dozen  of  smaller  fry. 
The  boys  crowded  around  Sherman  and  he  could  not  help 
hearing  such  expressions  as  "Where's  Pap?"  "Let's  see 
old  Pap,"  etc.,  nor  could  he  help  laughing,  either.  The 
men  think  more  of  Sherman  than  of  any  general  who  ever 
commanded  them,  but  they  did  not  cheer  him.  I  never 
heard  a  general  cheered  in  my  life,  as  he  rode  the  lines. 
Sherman  said  in  hearing  of  50  men  of  our  regiment,  "Take 
it  easy  to-day,  for  you  will  have  work  enough  to-morrow. 
It  will  be  quick  done  though."  Now  see  what  that  means. 

May  14,  1864. 

Reveille  at  3  a.  m.  and  an  order  has  just  come  to  leave  all 
our  knapsacks  and  move  at  7  a.  m.  Great  hospital  prepara- 
tions are  going  on  in  our  rear.  I  think  we  are  going  to  take 
the  railroad  and  Resaca.  Large  reinforcements  came  last 
night.  Could  hear  the  Rebels  running  trains  all  night.  Ten- 
thirty  a.  m. — Have  moved  forward  about  four  miles.  Saw 
General  Kilpatrick  laying  in  an  ambulance  by  the  roadside. 
He  was  wounded  in  the  leg  this  morning  in  a  skirmish.  Met 
a  number  of  men — wounded — moving  to  the  rear,  and  a  dozen 
or  so  dead  horses,  all  shot  this  morning.  Quite  lively  skirm- 
ishing is  going  on  now  about  200  yards  in  front  of  us. 

One  forty-five  p.  m. — Moved  about  200  yards  to  the  front 
and  brought  on  brisk  firing. 

Two  thirty-five. — While  moving  by  the  flank  shell  com- 
menced raining  down  on  us  very  rapidly;  half  a  dozen  burst 
within  25  yards  of  us.  The  major's  horse  was  shot  and  I  think 


240  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

he  was  wounded.  In  the  regiment  one  gun  and  one  hat  was 
struck  in  my  company.  Don't  think  the  major  is  wounded 
very  badly. 

Three  thirty  p.  m. — Corporal  Slater  of  my  company  just 
caught  a  piece  of  shell  the  size  of  a  walnut  in  his  haversack. 

Four  p.  m. — Colonel  Dickerman  has  just  rejoined  the  regi- 
ment. We  would  have  given  him  three  cheers  if  it  had  not 
been  ordered  otherwise. 

Five  p.  m. — Have  moved  forward  about  a  mile  and  a  real 
battle  is  now  going  on  in  our  front.  Most  of  the  artillery  is 
farther  to  the  right,  and  it  fairly  makes  the  ground  tremble. 
Every  breath  smells  very  powderish.  A  battery  has  just  opened 
close  to  the  right  of  our  regiment.  I  tell  you  this  is  inter- 
esting. Our  regiment  is  not  engaged  yet,  but  we  are  in 
sight  of  the  Rebels  and  their  bullets  whistle  over  our  heads. 
The  men  are  all  in  good  spirits. 

Eight  p.  m. — A  few  minutes  after  six  I  was  ordered  to 
deploy  my  company  as  skirmishers  and  relieve  the  ist  Brigade 
who  were  in  our  front.  We  shot  with  the  Rebels  until  dark, 
and  have  just  been  relieved.  One  company  of  the  I2th  Indiana 
who  occupied  the  ground  we  have  just  left,  lost  their  captain 
and  30  men  killed  and  wounded  in  sight  of  us.  The  Rebels  are 
making  the  axes  fly  in  our  front.  The  skirmish  lines  are 
about  200  yards  apart.  I  have  had  no  men  wounded 
to-day.  Dorrance  returned  to  the  company  this  evening. 

May  14,  1864,  Daylight. 

We  have  just  been  in  line  and  the  intention  was  to 
charge  the  Rebel  position,  but  two  batteries  were  dis- 
covered in  front  of  us.  The  skirmishers  advanced  a  little 
and  brought  down  a  heavy  fire.  A  battery  is  now  getting 
into  position  in  our  front,  right  in  front  of  our  company, 
and  when  it  opens  I  expect  we  will  have  another  rain  of 
shell  from  the  Rebels. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  24! 

Nine  thirty-five  a.  m. — Our  battery  has  opened,  but  the 
Rebels  cannot  reply.  Four  of  their  guns  are  in  plain  sight  of 
us,  but  our  brigade  skirmishers  have  crawled  up  so  close  that 
not  a  Rebel  dare  load  one  of  them.  Joke  on  them !  One  of  my 
men  was  struck  on  the  foot  while  talking  to  me  a  few  minutes 
ago.  Made  a  blue  spot,  but  did  not  break  the  skin. 

Eleven  forty-five  a.  m. — I  think  our  regiment  has  not  had 
more  than  six  or  eight  wounded  this  morning.  Very  heavy 
musketry  firing  is  going  on  on  our  left.  It  is  the  I4th  Corps. 

Two  p.  m. — Since  I  p.  m.  terrific  artillery  and  musketry 
firing  has  been  going  on  on  our  left.  The  enemy  was  mass- 
ing against  the  I4th  A.  C.  when  Thomas  attacked  them.  I 
think  he  drove  them  some  distance. 

Two  thirty  p.  m. — My  company  is  ordered  to  be  deployed 
and  sent  down  the  hill  to  support  skirmishers.  We  are  in 
position,  very  lively  firing  is  going  on. 

Five  p.  m. — A  splendid  artillery  duel  is  going  on  right  over 
my  head.  The  Rebel  battery  is  just  across  an  open  field,  not 
600  yards,  and  one  of  ours  is  a  short  100  yards  in  my  rear. 
Osterhaus  a  half  mile  on  our  right  is  playing  on  the  same 
battery.  Thomas  is  still  fighting  heavily.  He  seems  to 
be  turning  their  right  or  forcing  it  back.  Every  time  the 
Rebels  fire  our  skirmishers  just  more  than  let  them  have 
the  bullets.  I  tell  you  this  is  the  most  exciting  show  I 
ever  saw.  Their  battery  is  right  in  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
but  so  masked  that  we  can't  see  it,  or  wouldn't  let  them 
load.  I  write  under  cover  of  a  stump  which  a  dead  man  of 
the  26th  Indiana  shares  with  me. 

Eight  p.  m. — Just  relieved ;  I  lost  no  men.  The  fighting  on 
the  left  was  Hooker  and  Howard,  and  was  very  heavy. 

May  15,  1864,  i  :30  a.  m. 

At  II  p.  m.  went  again  on  the  skirmish  line  with  Captain 
Post  and  superintended  the  construction  of  rifle  pits  for  our 
skirmishers.  A  good  deal  of  fun  between  our  boys  and  the 
Rebels  talking  only  50  yards  apart. 


242  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Five  thirty  a.  m. — At  3  a.  m.  moved  and  are  now  supporting 
Osterhaus,  who  is  going  to  charge  the  railroad.  Will  see 
fighting  this  morning. 

Nine  a.  m. — The  skirmishers  are  fighting  briskly.  Oster- 
haus' artillery  is  on  both  sides  and  behind  us.  Sherman  has 
just  passed  us  to  the  front.  When  we  first  came  here  about 
daylight  the  Rebels  charged  our  folks  on  the  hill  ahead,  but 
were  repulsed  without  our  assistance.  McPherson  is  now 
passing.  Osterhaus  gained  that  hill  last  night  by  a  charge, 
losing  about  200  men  in  the  operation.  From  a  hill  50  yards 
from  our  position  I  can  see  the  Rebel  fort  at  Resaca  and 
Rebels  in  abundance.  It  is  not  a  mile  distant. 

One  thirty  p.  m. — Our  artillery  is  beginning  to  open  on 
them.  One  man  was  killed  and  two  wounded  within  40  yards 
of  the  regiment  by  Rebel  sharpshooters. 

Seven  p.  m. — No  charge  yet  to-day,  but  has  been  heavy 
fighting  on  the  left.  I  have  seen,  this  evening,  Rebel  trains 
moving  in  all  directions.  We  have  a  good  view  of  all  their 
works. 

May  1 6,  1864,  6  p.  m. 

The  old  story — the  Rebels  evacuated  last  night.  They  made 
two  or  three  big  feints  of  attacking  during  the  night,  but  are 
all  gone  this  morning.  It  is  said  they  have  taken  up  a  position 
some  five  miles  ahead.  Prisoners  and  deserters  are  coming  in. 
At  Resaca  we  captured  eight  cannon,  not  more  than  100  pris- 
oners, and  some  provisions ;  don't  know  what  we  got  at  Dalton. 
Some  estimate  our  whole  loss  up  to  this  time  at  2,500 
killed  and  wounded.  Everything  is  getting  the  road  for  pur- 
suit. The  prisoners  say  Johnston  will  make  a  stand  40  miles 
south. 

Six  p.  m. — The  i6th  Corps  moved  out  on  the  Rome  road, 
and  while  we  are  waiting  for  the  I4th  Corps  to  get  out  of 
our  way  word  came  that  the  i6th  had  run  against  a  snag. 
We  were  moved  out  at  once  at  nearly  double  quick  time 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  243 

to  help  them.  Trotted  four  miles  and  passed  a  good  many 
wounded,  but  we  were  not  needed.  We  bivouac  to-night  on 
the  southeast  bank  of  Coosa  river.  I  hear  to-night  that  our 
loss  in  the  corps  is  600  and  that  no  corps  has  suffered  less  than 
ours.  Some  think  the  whole  will  foot  over  5,000. 

May  17,  1864,  10  a.  m. 

Our  regiment  moves  in  rear  of  the  division  to-day  and  we 
are  still  waiting  for  the  trains  to  pass.  We  can  hear  firing  in 
front  occasionally,  and  although  we  have  seen  fighting  enough 
to  satisfy  us  for  a  time,  still  it's  more  disagreeable  to  be  away 
in  the  rear  and  hearing,  but  not  knowing  what's  going  on,  than 
to  be  in  the  field.  I  saw  several  hundred  Rebel  prisoners  yes- 
terday, among  then  one  colonel.  The  country  is  much  more 
level  this  side  of  the  Coosa,  but  the  pine  woods  spoil  it. 
Our  advance,  from  the  faint  sound  of  the  artillery  firing, 
must  be  seven  or  eight  miles  ahead.  We  will  make  it 
very  warm  for  Johnston. 

Ten  p.  m. — Have  just  got  into  camp,  madei2  miles  to-day. 
Heavy  firing  on  our  left,  which  I  hear  is  a  division  of  How- 
ard's Corps. 

May  18,  1864. 

Our  division  has  had  the  advance  to-day,  but  no  infantry 
fighting.  At  noon  we  get  into  Adairsville  and  meet  the  4th 
Army  Corps.  Saw  Generals  Howard,  Thomas,  Sickles  and  a 
hundred  others.  We  are  camped  five  miles  southwest  of  town 
and  by  the  prettiest  place  I  ever  saw.  The  house  is  excellent, 
the  grounds  excel  in  beauty  anything  I  ever  imagined.  The  oc- 
cupants have  run  away.  Our  cavalry  had  a  sharp  fight  here  this 
p.  m.,  and  on  one  of  the  gravel  walks  in  the  beautiful  garden 
lies  a  Rebel  colonel,  shot  in  five  places.  He  must  have  been  a 
noble  looking  man ;  looks  50  years  old,  and  has  a  fine  form  and 
features.  Think  his  name  is  Irwin.  I  think  there  must  be  a 
hundred  varieties  of  the  rose  in  bloom  here  and  the  most  splen- 
did specimens  of  cactus.  I  do  wish  you  could  see  it.  At 
Adairsville,  night  before  last,  we  lost  400  killed  and  wounded 
in  a  skirmish. 

16 


244  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Nine  a.  m. — Rapid  artillery  firing  on  our  left  front.  We  are 
waiting  for  Osterhaus  and  Morgan  L.  Smith  to  get  out  of  the 
way.  Our  division  has  the  rear  to-day.  Our  cars  got  into 
Adairsville  yesterday  evening  and  the  last  Rebel  train  left  in 
the  morning.  Firing  on  the  left  very  heavy. 

Kingston,  Cass  County,  Ga.,  May  19,  1864,  5  p.  m. 
The  artillery  has  been  working  all  day,  but  have  not  heard 
how  much  of  a  fight.  That  dead  Rebel  colonel  was  Iverson, 
of  the  Second  Georgia  Cavalry;  we  think  he  was  formerly  a 
M.  C.  of  this  State,  and  a  secessionist.  The  citizens  here  have 
most  all  left  the  towns,  but  are  nearly  all  at  home  in  the  coun- 
try. The  cavalry  had  sharp  fighting  in  the  road  we  have  come 
over  to-day.  Many  dead  horses  and  a  number  of  fresh  graves 
by  the  roadside.  I  wish  I  was  in  the  cavalry.  This  plodding 
along  afoot  is  dry  business,  compared  with  horse-back  travel- 
ing. I  hear  this  morning  that  Wilder's  mounted  infantry  cap- 
tured two  cannons  and  600  Rebels  this  afternoon.  Also  that 
6,000  prisoners  were  yesterday  started  from  Dalton  for  the 
North. 

Kingston,  May  20,  1864. 

Our  cars  got  here  this  morning;  the  whistle  woke  me.  One 
of  the  most  improbable  rumors  afloat  is  that  letters  will  be 
allowed  to  go  North  to-day.  I  know  you  are  anxious,  so  will 
not  lose  the  rumor  of  a  chance.  Billy  Fox  returned  to-day. 
My  things  are  all  right  at  Chattanooga.  I'm  in  excellent  health 
and  all  right  every  way.  The  news  from  Grant  encourages  us 
very  much,  but  if  he  gets  whipped  it  won't  keep  us  from  whal- 
ing Johnston.  We're  now  about  50  miles  from  Atlanta.  Will 
probably  take  a  day  or  two  here  to  replenish  the  supply  trains, 
and  let  the  men  recruit  a  little  after  their  twenty-day  march ; 
don't  know  anything  about  Johnston ;  it  is  not  thought  he  will 
give  us  a  fight  near  here. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  245 

May  21,  1864. 

The  23d  Army  Corps  moved  South  yesterday.  I  hear  that 
they  found  the  enemy  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Etowah  river, 
and  that  he  disputes  the  crossing.  Grant  seems  to  be  checked 
in  his  "on  to  Richmond."  It  seems  that  Rebel  Iverson,  whom 
I  saw  dead  near  Adairsville,  was  a  brigadier  general  and  a  son 
of  the  ex-Congressman.  This  Kingston  has  been  a  gem  of  a 
little  town,  but  the  Rebels  burned  most  of  it  when  they  left. 
Our  railroad  men  are  very  enterprising.  The  cars  got  here 
the  same  night  we  did,  and  a  dozen  or  20  trains  are  coming 
per  day,  all  loaded  inside  with  commissary  stores  and  outside 
with  soldiers. 

May  22,  1864. 

Two  regiments  of  three-year's  men  who  did  not  "veteran" 
started  home  to-day.  The  loss  of  the  army  in  this  way  will  not 
be  much.  Not  more  than  one  or  two  regiments  in  any  corps 
refused  to  veteran.  We  are  drawing  20  days'  rations,  sending 
sick  back  to  convalescent  camp  at  Chattanooga,  and  making  all 
preparations  for  a  hard  campaign. 

Four  miles  northwest  of  Van  Wirt,  Ga., 

May  23,  1864. 

Weather  is  getting  very  hot.  We  have  made  21  miles  to- 
day, and  the  distance,  heat  and  dust  have  made  it  by  far  the 
hardest  march  we  have  had  for  a  year.  Excepting  about  six 
miles  of  dense  pine  woods  the  country  we  have  passed  through 
has  been  beautiful,  quite  rolling,  but  fertile  and  well  improved. 
In  the  midst  of  the  pine  woods  we  stopped  to  rest  at  Hollis' 
Mill,  a  sweet  looking  little  1 7-year  old  lady  here  told  me  she 
was  and  always  had  been  Union,  and  that  nearly  all  the  poor 
folks  here  are  Union.  In  answer  to  some  questions  about 
the  roads  and  country,  she  said,  "Well,  now,  I  was  born  and 
raised  right  here,  and  never  was  anywhere,  and  never  see  any- 
body, and  I  just  don't  know  anything  at  all." 


246  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

I  never  saw  so  many  stragglers  as  to-day.  For  12 
miles  no  water  was  to  be  had;  then  we  came  to  a  spring,  a 
very  large  one,  say  4  or  5  hogsheads  a  minute.  All  the  offi- 
cers in  the  army  could  not  have  kept  the  men  in  ranks.  Saw 
no  cases  of  sunstroke,  but  two  of  my  men  from  heat  turned 
blue  with  rush  of  blood  to  the  head,  and  had  to  leave  the  ranks. 
Some  think  we  are  moving  on  Montgomery,  Ala.  Our  orders 
say  we  need  not  hope  for  railroad  communications  for  20  days ; 
I  think  that  Atlanta  is  our  point,  although  we  were  50  miles 
from  there  this  morning  and  60  to-night.  The  planters  in  this 
country  own  thousands  of  negroes,  and  they've  run  them  all  off 
down  this  road.  They  are  about  two  days  ahead  of  us,  and  the 
poor  people  say  as  thick  on  the  road  as  we  are.  Have  passed 
several  to-day  who  escaped  from  their  masters. 

Four  miles  southeast  of  Van  Wirt,  Ga., 

May  24,  1864. 

Short  march  to-day — because  it  is  a  full  day's  march  from 
here  to  water.  At  Van  Wirt  we  turned  east  on  the  Atlanta 
road.  Will  pass  through  Dallas  to-morrow.  My  company  was 
rear  guard  to-day  for  the  brigade.  One  of  my  men  spilled  a 
kettle  of  boiling  coffee  last  night,  filling  his  shoe.  All  the  skin 
on  the  top  of  his  foot  that  did  not  come  off  with  the  socks  is 
in  horrible  blisters.  The  surgeon  said  he  would  have  to  march, 
and  he  has,  all  day,  don't  that  seem  rather  hard  ?  You  remem- 
ber how  I  used  to  detest  fat  meat?  If  I  didn't  eat  a  pound  of 
raw  pickled  pork  to-day  for  dinner,  shoot  me.  Things  don't 
go  nearly  as  well  as  on  the  march  from  Memphis.  'Tis  much 
harder,  though  we  don't  make  as  many  miles  per  day.  One 
reason  is  the  weather  is  much  warmer,  and  another  thing,  each 
division  then  marched  independently,  and  now  all  three  of  them 
camp  together  every  night.  Dorrance  is  nearly  sick  to-night 
I  thought  I  heard  some  artillery  firing  this  morning,  but  guess 
I  was  mistaken.  The  cavalry  report  they  have  not  found  any 
force  of  Rebels  yesterday  or  to-day.  Small-pox  has  broken  out 
in  the  6th  Iowa — some  20  cases. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  247 

Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  near  Dallas,  Ga,, 

May  26,  1864,  8  a.  m. 

We  did  not  make  more  than  seven  or  eight  miles  yesterday, 
on  account  of  some  bad  road  that  troubled  the  trains  very  much. 
We  got  into  camp  at  dark,  just  as  a  thunderstorm  broke.  We 
hurried  up  our  arrangements  for  the  night — kicking  out  a  level 
place  on  the  hillside  to  sleep — gathering  pine  boughs  to  keep 
the  water  from  washing  us  away,  and  spreading  our  rubbers 
over  rail  frames.  Everything  just  finished,  was  just  pulling 
our  stock  of  bed  clothes  over  me  (one  rubber  coat),  when  the 
brigade  bugle  sounded  the  "assembly."  It  was  dark  as  pitch 
and  raining  far  from  gently — no  use  grumbling — so  everybody 
commenced  yelping,  singing,  or  laughing.  In  ten  minutes  we 
were  under  way,  and  though  we  didn't  move  a  mile,  every  man 
who  didn't  tumble  half  a  dozen  times  would  command  good 
wages  in  a  circus.  We  finally  formed  line  of  battle  on  a  bushy 
hillside,  and  I  dropped  down  on  the  wet  leaves  and  slept 
soundly  until  i  o'clock,  and  woke  up  wet  and  half  frozen,  took 
up  my  bed  and  made  for  a  fire  and  dried  out.  Do  you  remem- 
ber the  case  when  the  Saviour  commanded  a  convalescent  to 
take  up  his  bed  and  walk?  I  always  pitied  that  man,  carrying 
a  four-post  bedstead,  feathers,  straw  and  covering  and  failed  to 
see  it,  but  if  he  had  no  more  bedding  than  I  had.  I  can  better 
understand  it.  Heavy  cannonading  all  the  p.  m.  yesterday.  It 
seemed  some  five  or  six  miles  east;  don't  understand  the  way 
matters  are  shaping  at  all.  Sherman  has  such  a  way  of  keeping 
everything  to  himself.  The  country  between  Van  Wirt  and 
Dallas  is  very  rough,  but  little  of  it  under  cultivation ;  along 
this  creek  are  some  nice  looking  farms.  The  Rebels  were  go- 
ing to  make  a  stand,  but  didn't. 

Two  p.  m. — We  started  at  8  this  morning,  and  have  not  made 
more  than  one  and  one-half  miles.  Soldiers  from  the  front 
say  that  Hardee's  Corps  fronts  us  two  miles  ahead,  and  that  he 
proposes  to  fight.  I  have  heard  no  firing  that  near  this  morn- 
ing, but  have  heard  artillery  eight  or  ten  miles  east.  A  number 
of  prisoners  have  been  sent  back,  who  all  report  Hardee  at 


248  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Dallas.  I  think  Thomas  now  joins  our  left.  McPherson  last 
night  rode  up  to  some  Rebel  pickets,  who  saluted  him  with  a 
shower  of  hot  lead,  fortunately  missing  him.  Osterhaus'  com- 
missary drives  along  a  lot  of  cattle  for  the  division.  Last  night 
he  got  off  the  road  and  drove  them  into  a  party  of  secesh,  who 
took  commissary,  beef  and  all.  Back  at  Kingston,  a  big  box 
came  to  General  Harrow  with  heavy  express  charges.  An 
ambulance  hauled  it  20  miles  before  it  caught  up  with  him, 
and  on  opening  it  he  found  a  lot  of  stones,  a  horse's  tail,  and  a 
block  of  wood  with  a  horses'  face  pinned  on  it  labeled,  "head 
and  tail  of  your  Potomac  horse."  At  Van  Wirt  before  we  got 
there  the  Rebels  had  a  celebration  over  Lee's  capturing  Grant 
and  half  of  his  army.  There's  a  great  deal  of  ague  in  the 
regiment.  We  will  have  a  great  deal  of  sickness  after  the  cam- 
paign closes.  I  have  only  seen  one  man  at  home  in  Georgia 
who  looked  capable  of  doing  duty  as  a  soldier.  My  health  is 
excellent.  This  creek  runs  into  the  Talladega  river. 

One  mile  south  of  Dallas,  2  p.  m. 

After  a  lively  skirmishing  Jeff  C.  Davis'  division  of  the  I4th 
Army  Corps  occupied  Dallas  at  2  p.  m.  The  Rebels  retired 
stubbornly.  We  passed  Dallas  about  dark,  and  are  now  the 
front  and  extreme  right  of  the  whole  army.  I  guess  fighting  is 
over  for  the  night.  Two  very  lively  little  fights  have  occurred 
before  dark.  The  heavy  fighting  yesterday  was  Hooker.  He 
whipped  and  drove  them  four  miles,  taking  their  wounded. 

Near  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  27,  1864,  8  a.  m. 
There  has  been  some  very  heavy  fighting  on  our  left  this 
morning,  and  everywhere  along  the  line.  We  have  been  mov- 
ing in  line  since  6  o'clock,  supporting  skirmishers  and  the  3d 
Brigade.  Have  driven  the  Rebels  about  three-quarters  of  a 
mile.  The  I4th  Corps  must  have  had  a  severe  fight  about  6 130. 
The  bullets  have  whistled  pretty  thick  this  a.  m. 

Skirmish  line,  n  a.  m. — Osterhaus  and  Smith  (I  think), 
have  just  had  a  big  fight  on  our  left.  At  8:30  I  was  ordered 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  249 

to  take  Companies  E,  K,  B  and  G,  deploy  them  and  relieve  the 
3d  Brigade  skirmishers.  Deployed  and  moved  forward  over 
one-half  mile  through  the  very  densest  brush — couldn't  see 
six  feet,  expecting  every  minute  to  find  the  3d  Brigade  skirm- 
ishers, but  they  had  been  drawn  in,  and  we  were  right  into  the 
Rebels  before  we  saw  them.  Three  of  my  company  were 
wounded  in  an  instant  and  three  of  K's  taken  prisoner,  but 
our  boys  made  the  Rebels  skedaddle,  and  all  of  them  got  away. 
Twenty-one  Rebels  came  up  in  rear  of  Captain  Smith  and 
two  of  his  men.  Private  Benson  shot  one  of  them,  and  Smith 
roared  out  for  the  rest  to  surrender,  which  they  did.  They 
(Rebels)  said  they  would  not  have  been  taken  if  the  Georgia 
brigade  had  not  fallen  back.  I  think  that  is  doing  pretty  well 
for  four  companies  of  our  regiment,  running  a  whole  brigade. 
Firing  is  very  heavy  all  around  us. 

Twelve  thirty  m.--A  chunk  of  Rebel  shell  lit  15  feet  from 
me.  Lively  artillery  firing  right  over  head. 

Four  p.  m. — At  2:15,  after  firing  a  few  shells,  the  Rebels 
set  up  a  yell  along  our  whole  front.  I  knew  a  charge  was 
coming.  At  2:30  another  yell  was  much  nearer.  My  men 
then  commenced  firing  on  them,  but  they  came  on  yelling 
pretty  well,  but  not  as  heartily  as  I  have  heard.  They  came 
jumping  along  through  the  brush  more  then,  making  the 
bullets  rain  among  us.  I  think  they  could  not  fly  much  thicker. 
My  men  did  nobly ,but  they  were  too  many  for  us,  and  we  had 
to  fall  back.  I  heard  their  officers  halloo  to  them,  "to  yell  and 
stand  steady,"  and  they  were  right  amongst  us  before  we  left. 
Our  line  of  battle  checked  them  and  made  them  run.  I  lost 
A.  Huffard — killed ;  Seth  Williams — died  in  two  hours ;  Wm. 
Gustine — severely  wounded;  E.  Suydam — ditto;  S.  Hudson — 
ditto;  H.  Stearns — slight  wound;  J.  H.  Craig — ditto;  F.  Cary 
— ditto;  W.  Roberts — ditto;  W.  G.  Dunblazier —  captured. 

Seven  p.  m. — I  tell  you  this  was  exciting.  My  men  all  stood 
like  heroes  (save  one),  and  some  of  them  did  not  fall  back 
when  I  wanted  them  to.  The  bush  was  so  thick  that  we  could 
hardly  get  through  in  any  kind  of  line.  Gustine  and  Suydam 


2SO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

were  about  20  feet  on  my  left  when  they  were  shot,  but  I 
couldn't  see  them.  The  Rebels  were  not  15  feet  from  them. 
I  had  31  men  on  the  line,  and  nine  killed  and  wounded,  and 
one  prisoner,  is  considerable  of  a  loss.  They  took  six  more 
of  Company  K  prisoners,  but  three  of  them  got  off.  I  don't 
think  anyone  can  imagine  how  exciting  such  a  fracas  as  that 
is  in  thick  brush.  As  quick  as  our  line  started  the  Rebels 
running,  I  went  back  on  the  ground,  and  found  a  lot  of  dead 
and  wounded  Rebels.  Every  prisoner  of  the  2Oth  Georgia  had 
whiskey  in  his  canteen,  and  all  said  they  had  all  issued  to  them 
that  they  wanted.  I  never  say  such  a  dirty,  greasy,  set  of 
mortals.  They  have  had  no  rest  since  they  left  Dalton.  On 
account  of  my  skirmishers  losing  so  heavily,  we  have  been 
relieved  from  the  line,  and  are  now  in  rifle  pits,  and  are  sup- 
porting those  who  relieved  us. 

May  28,  1864,  9  a.  m. 

Still  in  rifle  pits.  We  have  been  treated  to  a  terrific 
storm  of  shells,  spherical  case,  and  solid  shot.  The  bat- 
teries are  in  plain  sight  of  each  other,  and  the  gunners 
call  it  a  thousand  yards  between  them.  I  don't  think 
either  battery  does  very  fine  work,  but  they  make  it  more 
than  interesting  for  us.  A  conical  shell  from  a  12  pound 
gun  passed  through  a  log  and  struck  a  Company  C  man 
on  the  leg,  only  bruising  him.  Two  solid  shot  fell  in  my 
company  works,  but  hurt  no  one.  Seven  p.  m. — Talk  about 
fighting,  etc.,  we've  seen  it  this  p.  m.  sure,  of  all  the  interesting 
and  exciting  times  on  record  this  must  take  the  palm.  At 
about  3 :45  p.  m.,  a  heavy  column  of  Rebels  rose  from  a 
brush  with  a  yell  the  devil  ought  to  copyright,  broke  for 
and  took  three  guns  of  the  ist  Iowa  Battery  which  were 
in  front  of  the  works  (they  never  should  have  been  placed 
there)  ;  the  6th  Iowa  boys,  without  orders,  charged  the 
Rebels,  retook  the  battery  and  drove  them  back.  They 
came  down  on  our  whole  line,  both  ours  and  the  i6th  A.  C, 
and  for  two  hours  attempted  to  drive  us  out.  We  repulsed 
them  at  every  point  without  serious  loss  to  us,  but  I 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  251 

believe  they  are  at  least  3,000  men  short.  In  our  brigade 
Colonel  Dickerman,  Lieutenant  Colonel  6th  Iowa  com- 
manding, and  Major  Gilsey,  commanding  46th  Ohio,  are 
wounded.  Besides  these  I  don't  think  our  brigade  lost  over 
So.  It  was  a  grand  thing.  I  did  not  lose  a  man  and  only 
three  companies  of  our  regiment  lost  any.  When  the  mus- 
ketry was  playing  the  hottest,  Logan  came  dashing  up 
along  our  line,  waved  his  hat  and  told  the  boys  to  "give 
them  hell,  boys."  You  should  have  heard  them  cheer  him. 
It  is  Hardee's  Corps  fighting  us,  and  he  promised  his  men 
a  "Chickamauga,"  but  it  turned  out  a  "Bull  Run"  on 
their  part.  It  is  the  same  corps  our  regiment  fought  at 
Mission  Ridge.  Our  line  is  very  thin  along  here,  but 
guess  we  can  save  it  now.  I  heard  a  4Oth  boy  get  off  an 
oddity  this  evening,  he  said:  "If  they  come  again,  I  am 
going  to  yell  if  there's  any  danger  of  their  taking  us, 
"Worlds  by  Nation  Right  into  line  Wheel!'  and  if  that 
don't  scare  them,  I  propose  going." 

May  29,  1864,  4  p.  m. 

Have  been  in  the  rifle  pits  all  day.  We're  now  expecting 
a  charge  from  the  Rebels,  that  is,  our  division  commander  is. 
I  think  they  will  lose  an  immense  sight  of  men  if  they  attempt 
it.  News  to-day  of  Davis  moving  his  capital  to  Columbia, 
S.  C.,  and  of  Grant  driving  Lee  across  the  Savannah  River. 

Monday,  May  30,  1864. 

At  dark  last  night  I  was  put  in  charge  of  our  brigade 
skirmish  line  of  four  companies;  by  9:30  I  had  everything 
arranged  to  our  notion.  About  that  time  the  musketry 
commenced  fire  on  our  left  and  continued  for  a  half  hour; 
it  was  very  heavy.  Some  three  or  four  pieces  of  artillery 
also  opened  on  our  side.  That  thing  was  repeated  eight 
times  during  the  night,  the  last  fight  being  just  before 
daylight.  When  I  was  down  on  the  right  of  the  line  I 
could  hear  the  Rebels  talking  about  the  fight  and  saying 
it  was  a  mighty  hard  one,  and  "I  wonder  whether  our 


252  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

men  or  the  Yanks  are  getting  the  best  of  it."  These  night 
fights  are  very  grand.  I  understand  this  fighting  occurred 
between  Hooker  and  the  "Johnnies."  Attacks  were  made 
by  each  side,  repulses  easy.  I  guess  from  what  little  I  hear 
there  was  a  good  deal  more  shooting  than  hitting  on  both 
sides.  I  think  it  was  the  intention  for  us  to  move  to  the 
left  last  night,  but  so  much  fighting  prevented  it.  I  don't 
know  when  I  have  been  so  used  up  as  this  morning,  and 
the  whole  command  is  not  far  from  the  same  condition, 
but  a  few  hours'  sleep  made  me  all  right  again  this  morn- 
ing. The  Rebels  are  much  more  tired  than  we ;  they  have 
had  no  rest  since  leaving  Dalton.  One  of  their  wounded, 
a  captain,  told  me  that  one  of  their  surgeons  told  him  their 
loss  since  leaving  Dalton  in  killed  and  wounded  would 
amount  to  25,000.  That's  pretty  strong,  the  third  of  it  or 
10,000  I  could  believe.  I  was  relieved  at  dark  to-day  from 
skirmishing  duty. 

May  31,  1864. 

Generals  Sherman,  McPherson,  Logan  and  Barry  visited 
our  position  yesterday.  Sherman  looks  very  well.  Logan 
smiled  and  bowed  in  return  to  my  salute  as  though  he 
recognized  me.  During  the  fight  of  the  28th  I  was  stand- 
ing, when  he  was  riding  along  our  lines  on  the  inside  of  the 
rifle  pits  (with  a  hatful  of  ammunition),  just  over  my  men. 
He  stopped  by  me  and  said:  "It's  all  right,  damn  it,  isn't 
it?"  I  returned:  "It's  all  right,  General."  The  Rebels 
were  quite  busy  last  night  running  troops  and  artillery 
along  our  front  both  ways.  Some  think  they  planted  a 
number  of  guns  opposite  us.  I  hear  some  of  the  officers 
talking  as  though  a  fight  was  expected  to-day.  Their 
sharpshooters  are  making  it  quite  warm  here  this  morning ; 
several  men  have  been  struck,  but  none  hurt  seriously. 

Seven  p.  m. — The  Rebels  have  just  finished  throwing  126 
shells  at  us,  only  19  of  which  bursted.  We  expected  they 
would  follow  it  with  a  charge,  but  they  hardly  will  attempt 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  253 

it  this  late.  I  think  we  have  lost  none  to-day  in  the  regi- 
ment. Their  shell  hurt  no  one.  Logan  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  arm  yesterday.  Colonel  Dickerman  died 
this  morning. 

Five  miles  west  of  Acworth, 

June  i,  1864. 

At  daylight  this  morning  we  left  our  position  on  the  right 
and  moved  over  here,  six  or  seven  miles,  and  relieved  Hook- 
er's 2Oth  Corps,  which  moved  around  to  the  left.  It  was 
ticklish  business  moving  out  from  under  at  least  30  of  the 
enemy's  guns,  and  we  did  it  very  quietly.  They  did  not  sus- 
pect it.  We  are  now  within  90  yards  of  the  Rebel  works, 
and  the  shooting  is  very  lively.  Only  one  of  our  regiment 
wounded  to-day.  I  would  much  rather  be  here  than  where 
we  were,  for  there  they  shot  at  us  square  from  three  sides, 
and  here  they  can  but  from  one  front.  This  is  dense  woods 
and  the  ground  between  our  works  nearly  level.  There  are 
two  lines  of  works  here,  30  yards  apart;  we  occupy  the  rear 
works  to-day,  but  will  relieve  the  6th  Iowa  to-morrow  and 
take  the  front.  This  is  the  ground  that  Hooker  had  his  big 
fight  on  on  the  25th  of  May.  He  lost  some  2,000  men  killed 
and  wounded.  The  woods  are  all  torn  up  with  canister,  shell 
and  shot,  and  bloody  shoes,  clothing  and  accoutrements  are 
thick. 

June  2,  1864. 

The  4Oth  Illinois  returned  to-day,  and  I  was  right  glad  to 
see  them  back.  We  have  lost  no  men  to-day.  The  I7th 
Army  Corps  is  beginning  to  come  in.  We  advanced  our 
works  last  night,  commencing  a  new  line  in  front  of  our  regi- 
ment. The  Rebels  didn't  fire  at  us  once,  though  they  might 
as  well  killed  some  one  as  not.  Colonel  Wright  and  ten  men 
picked  out  the  ground  and  then  I  took  a  detail  and  went  to 
work.  By  daylight  we  had  enough  of  rifle  pit  to  cover 
50  men  and  had  the  men  in  it.  I  tell  you  it  waked  them 


254  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

up  when  our  boys  opened  upon  them.  This  is  getting  on 
the  Vicksburg  order.  The  troops  are  in  splendid  spirits 
and  everything  is  going  on  as  well  as  could  be  wished. 
I  think  this  thing  will  be  brought  to  a  focus  in  a  few  days. 

June  3,  1864. 

Relieved  the  6th  Iowa  at  6:30  this  a.  m.  The  Rebels 
shoot  pretty  close.  Killed  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Company  I, 
(VanSycle),  and  wounded  three  men  in  our  regiment 
to-day.  This  makes  50  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
or  one  in  every  six. 

June  4,  1864. 

We  have  had  a  good  deal  of  fun  to-day.  The  firing  has 
been  brisker  than  usual  on  account  of  our  advancing  our 
works.  We  got  up  a  mock  charge  this  afternoon,  which 
came  pretty  near  scaring  the  Rebel  skirmishers  out  of  their 
boots  and  made  a  good  deal  of  fun  for  us.  Our  regiment 
is  on  fatigue  duty.  We  are  working  within  80  yards  of  the 
Rebel  works.  They  cut  a  Company  C  man's  finger  off 
when  he  raised  his  pick  to-day.  Another  of  our  men  was 
shot  in  the  face.  I,  with  my  company,  work  from  12 
to-night  until  three  in  the  morning. 

June  5,  1864. 

The  Rebels  run  last  night.  Everything  gone  this  morn- 
ing slick  and  clean.  Our  regiment  was  the  first  in  their 
works.  I  was  over  their  works  to-day  and  find  three  lines, 
two  of  them  very  strong.  A  number  of  dead  men  lay 
beween  their  lines  and  ours,  which  neither  side  could  bury. 
They  were  killed  during  Hooker's  fight  of  May  25th. 

Well,  I  expect  another  heat  like  this  at  the  Chattahochie 
river  and  when  we  get  them  out  of  there,  as  we  are  bound 
to  do,  ho !  for  easy  times ! 

My  health  continues  excellent,  and  I  hope  it  will  until 
this  campaign  is  over.  I  am  making  up  for  some  of  my 
easy  times  soldiering.  The  Rebels  were  awful  dirty  and 
the  smell  in  their  camps  dreadful. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  255 

We  got  some  25  prisoners  in  front  of  our  division.  I 
think  one  more  big  stand  will  wind  the  thing  up.  They 
made  no  noise  whatever  in  getting  away.  I  was  from  12 
to  3  o'clock  in  the  night  working  within  75  yards  of  them 
and  did  not  hear  them  at  all.  At  one  place  their  works  ran 
through  a  graveyard,  and  they  had  torn  down  all  the 
palings  inclosing  graves,  to  make  beds  for  themselves,  and 
unnecessarily  destroyed  everything  of  beauty  around.  I 
am  sure  we  would  not  have  done  so  in  our  own  country, 
and  /  would  not  anywhere.  I  don't  give  these  Rebels  half 
the  credit  for  humanity  or  any  of  the  qualities  civilized 
beings  should  possess,  that  I  used  to.  I  estimate  loss  of 
our  army  here  at  7,000 — killed,  wounded  and  missing.  It 
may  be  more.  Heavy  reinforcements  are  arriving  though, 
and  the  strength  of  the  army  is  much  greater  than  at  any 
time  heretofore.  Spirits  excellent.  I  could  tell  some  awful 
stories  of  dead  men,  but  forbear.  We  moved  at  9  a.  m. 
about  four  and  one-half  miles  toward  the  railroad  and 
have  gone  into  camp  for  the  night. 

This  is  the  first  day  since  May  26th  that  I  have  been 
out  of  the  range  of  Rebel  guns,  and  hardly  an  hour  of  that 
time  that  the  bullets  have  not  been  whistling  and  thump- 
ing around.  I  tell  you  it  is  a  strain  on  a  man's  nerves, 
but  like  everything  else  that  hurts,  one  feels  better  when 
he  gets  over  it. 

June  6,  1864. 

I  will  try  and  send  you  this  to-day.  Our  postmaster  never 
calls  for  letters,  though  we  could  send  them  if  he  would.  I 
will  try  hereafter  to  send  oftener,  though  you  must  not  feel 
anxious  about  me.  I  will  take  the  best  care  I  can  of  myself 
(and  do  my  whole  duty).  I  yet  think  that  to  be  connected 
with  such  a  campaign  as  this  is  well  worth  risking  one's  life 
for.  It  occasionally  gets  a  little  old,  but  so  does  everything 
in  this  life,  and  altogether  I  don't  know  but  that  it  wears  as 
well  as  any  of  life's  pleasures.  Do  you  remember  when  I 


256  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

was  at  home  how  little  I  knew  about  good  eatables?  Here 
it  is  a  great  advantage  to  me.  For  five  weeks  we  have  been 
living  on  "hard  tack,"  pickled  pork  and  coffee,  varied  by  not 
half  a  dozen  meals  of  beef,  not  even  beans  or  rice.  Nearly 
every  one  grumbles,  but  I  have  as  yet  felt  no  loss  of  appetite, 
and  hardly  the  desire  for  a  change. 

Nearly  all  the  prisoners  we  capture  say  they  are  done  fight- 
ing and  shamefully  say,  many  of  them,  that  if  exchanged  and 
put  back  in  the  ranks  they  will  shirk  rather  than  fight.  It 
would  mortify  me  very  much  if  I  thought  any  of  our  men 
that  they  captured  would  talk  so.  It  seems  to  me  that  the 
Confederacy  is  only  held  together  by  its  officers  exercising  at 
least  the  power  of  a  Czar,  and  that  should  we  leave  it  to  itself 
it  would  crumble.  Well,  I  am  calculating  that  this  campaign 
will  end  about  the  I5th  of  July,  in  Atlanta.  I  cannot  hope 
for  a  leave  of  absence  again  until  my  time  is  out,  unless  I 
resign,  and  if  active  campaigning  continues,  as  some  think  it 
will,  until  the  war  is  over,  of  course  I  will  have  no  chance  to 
do  the  latter.  Cousin  James  is  near  me  here,  and  I  expect 
to  see  him  soon. 

Passed  Charlie  Maple  on  the  road  yesterday ;  also  saw  Cleg- 
get  Birney.  He  is  a  splendid  looking  boy.  They  say  the  7th 
Cavalry  will  soon  be  here;  also  the  8th  Illinois.  I  will  try  to 
write  you  every  week  hereafter. 

One  mile  South  of  Ackworth,  June  16,  1864. 

We  moved  through  town  and  arrived  here  this  p.  m.  Ack- 
worth is  a  nice  little  town.  All  the  "ton"  have  moved  south. 

We  will  lay  here  two  days,  and  then  for  Atlanta  again.  I 
was  out  of  provisions  all  day  yesterday,  and  when  I  got  a. 
supply  last  night  filled  up  to  suffocation,  but  feel  splendidly 
to-day.  They  credit  a  prisoner  with  saying  that  Sherman  will 
never  go  to  hell,  for  he'll  flank  the  devil  and  make  heaven  in 
spite  of  all  the  guards.  The  army  is  in  glorious  spirits.  I 
hope  the  next  time  to  date  from  Atlanta,  but  can  hardly  hope 
that  for  three  weeks  yet. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  257 

Same  place,  June  7,  1864. 

Our  brigade  has  to-day  been  on  a  reconnoisance,  supporting 
Girard's  (formerly  Kilpatrick's)  Cavalry  Division. 

We  started  the  Johnnies  not  more  than  a  mile  from  here, 
and  skirmished  with  them,  driving  them  to  the  Kenesaw 
range  of  mountains,  about  five  miles.  Our  brigade  lost  noth- 
ing. Wilder's  mounted  infantry  did  the  skirmishing  and  had 
some  eight  to  ten  wounded.  Four  dead  Rebels  fell  into  our 
hands.  Cousin  James  called  on  me  yesterday.  I  am  much 
pleased  with  him.  He  is  a  No.  I  soldier,  I  know.  He  has  run 
some  pretty  close  risks  this  campaign,  but  who  would  not  for 
the  sake  of  taking  part  in  it?  I  shall  always  think  it  abund- 
antly worth  risking  one's  life  for.  To-morrow  night  we  can 
tell  whether  the  enemy  intends  fighting  us  at  this  place  or  not. 
They  left  on  the  field  to-day  a  dozen  or  twenty  real  lances. 
They  are  the  first  I  ever  saw  in  the  service.  The  staff  is  eight 
or  nine  feet  long  with  a  pointed  head  of  ten  inches  in  length. 
They  were  a  right  plucky  set  of  Johnnies. 

Our  battery  burst  a  shell  over  the  edge  of  a  piece  of  woods 
and  I  saw  some  20  Rebels  scatter  like  a  lot  of  scared  rats. 

Near  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  June  10,  1864. 

Army  moved  this  a.  m.  Found  the  enemy  again  at  this 
place,  and  have  been  in  line  of  battle  a  dozen  times,  more  or 
less.  Our  brigade  is  in  reserve  for  the  rest  of  the  division. 
This  is  the  Kenesaw  Mountain;  from  the  top  of  one  peak 
the  Rebels  could  see  probably  25,000  Yanks.  Some  ladies 
were  there  in  sight  observing  us.  We  are  to-night  in  a  dense 
wood  some  three-quarters  of  a  mile  southwest  of  the  main 
road.  The  enemy  does  not  seem  to  be  close  in  our  immediate 
front,  but  there  is  considerable  firing  about  a  brigade  to  our 
right.  General  Sherman's  staff  say  that  a  general  fight  is  not 
expected  here.  A.  J.  Smith  is  starting  for  Mobile  from  Vicks- 
burg.  That's  glorious.  We  to-day  heard  of  the  nomination 
at  Baltimore  of  Lincoln  and  Johnson.  Very  glad  that  Lin- 
coln is  renominated,  but  it  don't  make  any  excitement  in  the 
army.  The  unanimity  of  the  convention  does  us  more  good 


258  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

than  anything  else.  I  received  a  letter  from  Gen.  "Dick" 
(Oglesby)  last  night.  He  is  much  pleased  with  his  nomina- 
tion and  has  no  doubt  of  his  success.  Neither  have  I.  If  we 
had  the  privilege  the  whole  Illinois  army  would  vote  for  him. 
We  are  having  a  good  deal  of  rain,  say  about  6  hard  showers 
a  day.  The  roads  are  badly  cut  up.  The  hour  or  two  hours 
sun  between  showers  makes  the  men  all  right.  The  Rebels 
have  no  oilcloths  and  must  be  troubled  with  so  much  rain. 

June  n,  1864. 

Colonel  Wright  and  I  rode  out  to  the  front  to-day.  The 
Johnnies  are  about  one  and  one-half  miles  from  us,  and  oc- 
cupying what  looks  like  a  very  strong  position.  Rumor  says 
that  Sherman  has  said  that  he  can  force  them  to  leave  here  any 
moment,  but  will  wait  for  supplies  and  the  roads  to  dry  up. 
The  cars  got  to  Big  Shanty  about  noon  to-day,  and  indulged 
in  a  long  and  hilarious  shriek.  The  Rebel  locomotive  about 
two  miles  further  down  the  road  answered  with  a  yell  of 
defiance. 

I  hear  to-day  that  the  23d  Corps  took  2,000  prisoners  and 
two  cannon.  I  guess  its  yes.  Rosencrans  is  actually  coming, 
they  say.  I  don't  think  we  need  him.  Sherman  moves  very 
cautiously,  and  everybody  feels  the  utmost  confidence  in  him. 
I  saw  him  yesterday — seems  to  me  he  is  getting  fleshy.  He 
don't  look  as  though  he  had  anything  more  important  than  a 
40-acre  farm  to  attend  to. 

It  has  rained  almost  all  day.  You  musn't  expect  me 
to  write  anything  but  military  now,  for  it  is  about  all  we 
think  of. 

June  12,  1864. 

It  commenced  raining  before  daylight,  and  has  not 
ceased  an  instant  all  day.  We  are  lucky  in  the  roads 
where  it  can't  get  very  muddy,  but  so  much  rain  is  con- 
foundedly disagreeable.  The  only  source  of  consolation 
is  the  knowledge  that  the  Rebels  fare  much  worse  than  we 
do.  They  have  neither  tents  nor  oilcloths.  For  once  our 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  259 

corps  is  in  reserve.  The  i6th  and  I7th  united  their  lines 
in  front  of  us  this  morning.  The  I7th  A.  C.  especially  is 
using  ammunition  with  a  looseness.  They  are  just  getting 
their  hands  in.  The  rain  is  real  cold.  If  it  were  not  for 
hearing  the  musketry  and  artillery  firing  we  wouldn't 
know  there  was  an  enemy  within  50  miles.  This  is  said 
to  be  the  Georgia  gold  country.  I  could  just  pick  up  some 
beautiful  specimens  of  quartz  and  a  flinty  stone  (maybe 
quartz  also)  in  which  the  isinglass  shines,  and  in  some 
places  I  have  picked  off  sheets  two  inches  square.  No 
forage  here.  Four  deserters  came  in  to-day. 

They  say  that  Johnston  had  an  order  read  to  his  troops 
that  Wheeler  had  cut  the  railroad  in  our  rear,  and  de- 
stroyed our  supply  trains.  The  troops  all  cheered  it  heart- 
ily, but  hardly  had  they  got  their  mouths  shut  when  our 
locomotives  came  whistling  into  Big  Shanty,  one  mile  from 
their  lines.  The  deserters  say  it  disgusted  them  so  much 
they  concluded  they'd  quit  and  go  home.  I  wish  Sherman 
would  attack  them  now,  for  we  would  be  sure  to  get  what 
trains  and  artillery  they  have  here. 

June  13,  1864. 

The  rain  continued  until  5  p.  m.  Everything  and  every- 
body thoroughly  soaked.  Our  division  moved  about  one- 
half  mile  to  the  left  this  p.  m.  Strategy !  We  moved  out 
into  an  open  ploughed  field.  You  can  imagine  the  amount 
of  comfort  one  could  enjoy  so  situated,  after  two  days' 
constant  rain,  and  the  water  still  coming  down  in  sheets. 

The  field  is  trodden  into  a  bed  of  mortar.  No  one 
has  ventured  a  guess  of  the  depth  of  the  mud.  It  is  cold 
enough  for  fires  and  overcoats.  My  finger  nails  are  as  blue 
as  if  I  had  the  ague.  There  is  one  consolation  to  be  drawn 
from  the  cold,  it  stops  the  "chigres"  from  biting  us.  I 
would  rather  have  a  bushel  of  fleas  and  a  million  of  mos- 
quitoes on  me  than  a  pint  of  "chigres," — don't  know  the 
orthography — They  are  a  little  bit  of  a  red  thing, — just  an 
atom  bigger  than  nothing;  they  burrow  into  the  skin  and 


260  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

cause  an  itching  that  beats  the  regular  "camp"  all  hollow. 
Some  of  the  men  have  scars  from  "chigre"  bites  that  they 
received  at  Big  Black  last  summer,  and  will  carry  them 
across  the  Styx.  The  ants  here  also  have  an  affinity  for 
human  flesh  and  are  continually  reconnoitering  us.  I  kill 
about  200,000  per  day.  Also  knock  some  600  worms  off 
of  me.  Great  country  this  for  small  vermin.  I  pick 
enough  entomological  specimens  off  me  every  day  to  start 
a  museum.  I  do  manage  to  keep  clear  of  greybacks, 
though. 

Every  time  I  commence  talking  about  chigres  I  feel  short 
of  language.  I  am  satisfied  of  one  thing,  if  my  finger  nails 
don't  wear  out,  there'll  be  no  flesh  left  on  my  bones  by 
autumn.  The  case  stands  finger  nails  vs.  chigres,  and  skin 
is  the  sufferer.  Notwithstanding  rain,  cold  or  chigres,  we 
are  in  excellent  spirits.  Sherman  don't  tell  us  anything 
(in  orders)  good  or  bad,  but  every  man  feels  that  we  have 
"a  goodly  thing"  and  is  content  to  work  and  wait.  I  never 
heard  less  complaining,  or  saw  troops  in  better  spirits. 
If  we  get  to  Atlanta  in  a  week  all  right ;  if  it  takes  us  two 
months  you  won't  hear  this  army  grumble.  We  know 
that  "Pap"  is  running  the  machine  and  our  confidence  in  him 
is  unbounded. 

We  have  so  far  had  abundance  of  rations,  but  if  it  comes 
down  to  half,  we  will  again  say  "all  right."  Our  army  is 
stronger  to-day  than  it  ever  was  in  numbers  and  efficiency.  I 
am  sure  that  there  is  not  a  demoralized  company  in  the  com- 
mand. There  has  been  considerable  shooting  along  the  front 
to-day,  and  the  lines  have  been  advanced  some,  but  we  are 
nearly  a  mile  back,  and  being  constantly  ready  to  move.  I 
have  not  been  out,  and  don't  know  much  about  the  exact  sit- 
uation. Its  something  new  for  our  division  to  be  in  reserve. 
Time  passes  much  more  quickly  in  the  front.  The  general 
opinion  is  that  we  are  gradually  working  to  the  left,  and  will 
cross  the  Chattahoochie  about  east  or  northeast  of  Marietta. 
We  are  now  26  miles  from  Atlanta  by  railroad  and  some- 
thing nearer  by  pike. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  26 1 

June  14,  1864. 

Four  officers  and  28  men  deserted  from  the  Rebels  last 
night.  The  Rebel  captain  told  one  of  my  corporals  that  in 
their  brigade  there  is  an  organization  the  members  of  which 
avow  it  their  purpose  to  desert  the  first  opportunity.  These 
men  are  satisfied  the  game  is  up  with  them,  and  give  it  as  their 
reason  for  deserting.  They  say  the  whole  brigade  will  come 
as  opportunity  offers.  Lively  artillery  firing  in  front  of  us 
this  morning.  We  hear  that  Grant  has  pushed  Lee  to  his  for- 
tifications at  Richmond.  Suppose  the  report  will  be,  Grant 
will  cut  his  communications  south  and  west  and  Lee  will 
evacuate.  I  see  the  papers  have  us  across  the  Chattahoochie, 
away  south  of  the  railroad.  Of  course  that  is  a  poor  article  of 
gas  from  our  sensational  correspondent  in  the  far  rear. 

It  looks  to  me  as  if  the  Rebels  have  a  very  strong  position 
in  front  of  us  now,  but  I  may  be  mistaken.  We  have  been 
quietly  laying  in  camp  all  day.  I  must  credit  Georgia  with 
one  pleasant  June  day,  that  is  not  too  warm.  There  has  been 
the  usual  amount  of  firing  to-day,  though  few  hurt. 

June  15,  1864. 

This  has  been  a  star  day,  and  a  better  feeling  lot  of  men 
that  compose  our  brigade  will  be  hard  to  find,  for  to-night  any 
way.  The  morning  was  occupied  in  cleaning  guns,  etc.  At 
ii  o'clock  the  assembly  was  sounded,  and  we  moved  one  and 
one-half  miles,  which  brought  us  on  the  left  of  the  whole 
army.  By  I  p.  m.  we  had  our  line  formed  running  from  right 
to  left,  I03d  Illinois,  6th  Iowa,  46th  Ohio,  4Oth  Illinois,  with 
the  97th  Indiana  deployed  as  skirmishers.  We  were  in  about 
the  center  of  an  open  lot  of  plantations,  facing  a  densely- 
wooded  hill  of  maybe  300  acres.  It  was  a  plumb  one-third  of 
a  mile  to  it  and  already  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  were  reach- 
ing our  men  from  it. 

One  of  Company  K's  men  was  shot  here,  and  one  of  H's. 
At  precisely  I  p.  m.  we  started,  the  men  having  been  notified 
that  they  would  have  to  get  to  that  woods  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible. The  Rebels  opened  pretty  lively.  Right  in  front  of 


262  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

where  I  am  now  writing  is  a  house.  On  the  porch  I  see  n 
children,  not  over  nine  years  old.  All  belong  to  one  woman. 
Haven't  seen  her,  but  from  what  I  have  seen  in  this  country, 
wouldn't  dispute  the  man  who  would  tell  me  she  was  only  20 
years  old.  This  is  a  great  stock  country.  As  we  started, 
the  boys  raised  a  cheer  that  was  a  cheer,  and  we  went  down  on 
them  regular  storm  fashion.  A  hundred  yards  before  we  got 
to  the  hill  we  ran  into  a  strong  line  of  rifle  pits  swarming 
with  Johnnies.  They  caved  and  commenced  begging.  The 
pit  I  came  to  had  about  20  in  it.  They  were  scared  until  some 
of  them  were  blue,  and  if  you  ever  heard  begging  for  life  it 
was  then.  Somebody  yelled  out  "Let's  take  the  hill,"  and  we 
left  the  prisoners  and  broke.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  we  came 
to  a  muddy  rapid  stream,  from  10  to  15  feet  wide  and  no  cross- 
ing, so  we  plunged  in.  I  got  wet  to  my  middle,  and  many  did 
to  their  breasts. 

The  banks  were  steep  and  slippery  and  muddy.  Though  we 
all  expected  a  serious  fight  on  the  hill,  up  we  went  every  man 
for  himself,  and  through  to  an  open  field,  over  which  some  200 
straggling  sandy  looking  Johnnies  were  trying  to  get  away, 
which  most  of  them  accomplished,  as  we  were  too  tired  to 
continue  the  pursuit  fast  enough  to  overtake  them.  How- 
ever, the  boys  shot  a  lot  of  them.  Well,  they  call  it  a  gallant 
thing.  We  took  542  prisoners,  and  killed  and  wounded  I 
suppose  loo. 

The  whole  loss  in  our  brigade  is  not  10  killed  and  50 
wounded.  I  only  had  one  man  wounded  in  my  company, 
Corp.  E.  D.  Slater.  There  were  three  killed  and  nine  wounded 
in  the  regiment. 

There  were  three  regiments  of  Rebels — the  3ist,  4Oth  and 
54th  Alabama.  They  ought  to  have  killed  and  wounded  at 
least  500  of  us,  but  we  scared  them  out  of  it.  They  shot  too 
high  all  the  time.  Osterhaus  also  had  a  hard  fight  to-day, 
was  successful  in  taking  a  line  of  rifle  pits.  Thomas  drove 
them  a  mile. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  263 

June  1 6,  1864. 

We  moved  back  a  mile  last  night,  being  relieved  by  the 
1 7th  Corps.  Taking  it  easy  again  to-day.  There  has  been 
a  lively  artillery  fight  right  in  front  of  us  to-day.  Tell  *  *  * 
if  any  of  the  3ist  or  4Oth  Alabama  officers  report  at  Johnston's 
Island,  to  give  them  my  compliments.  One  captain  offered 
me  his  sword,  but  I  hadn't  time  to  stop.  We  wanted  that 
hill,  then. 

Near  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  June  17,  1864. 

Has  rained  steadily  all  day,  wetting  everybody,  but  "drying 
up"  all  shooting.  A  very  disagreeable  day.  I  saw  83  Rebels 
come  in  to-day,  about  one-half  of  whom  were  deserters  and 
the  rest  figured  to  get  captured. 

June  1 8,  1864. 

It  rained  steadily  until  4  p.  m.  and  had  hardly  ceased  a 
minute  when  our  guns  opened  and  the  skirmish  lines  joined 
issue.  General  Harrow  and  Colonel  Wright  rode  out  to  the 
left  some  200  yards  from  the  regiment  and  narrowly  escaped 
a  trip  over  the  river,  a  shell  bursting  right  under  the  nose  of 
the  general's  horse. 

June  19,  1864. 

This  is  the  5Oth  day  of  the  campaign.  Our  brigade  has 
been  under  musketry  fire  12  days,  artillery  about  30.  We  have 
as  a  brigade  fought  three  nice  little  battles,  in  as  many  days, 
repulsing  two  charges,  and  making  one  which  was  a  perfect 
success.  We  have  captured  all  told  about  650  prisoners,  and 
I  think  1,000  a  very  low  estimate  of  the  number  we  have 
killed  and  wounded.  I  think  Cheatham's  and  Bates'  Rebel  di- 
visions will  say  the  same.  We  have  thus  cleared  ourselves 
with  a  loss  to  us  of  nearly  300,  or  fully  one-fifth  of  the  com- 
mand. The  other  nine  days  we  were  on  the  skirmish  line,  in 
the  rifle  pits  or  front  line. 


264  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

This  morning  an  order  was  read  to  pursue  the  enemy  im- 
mediately and  in  ten  minutes  the  "assembly"  was  sounded. 
The  enemy  had  fallen  back  on  his  flanks,  and  maybe  was  in- 
tending to  evacuate,  for  our  right  had  swung  around  him  fur- 
ther than  I,  if  in  his  place,  would  consider  healthy.  But  he 
had  not  yet  left  the  Twin  Mountains.  The  line  now  runs  from 
right  to  left  by  Corps  23d,  2Oth,  4th,  I4th,  I5th,  i6th,  I7th. 
The  I4th  Corps  lost  heavily  to-day,  but  drove  the  Rebels  four 
miles.  The  23d  Corps  was  still  going  at  last  accounts.  The 
artillery  firing  to-day  was  beautiful.  Our  division  advanced 
about  one-half  mile  only.  The  Twin  Mountains  are  right  in 
front  of  us,  and  I  have  seen  the  Rebels  shooting  from  six 
batteries  on  the  crest  and  sides.  Our  batteries  on  a  line  600 
yards  in  front  answer  them  promptly. 

Only  one  shell  has  burst  near  us,  and  that  100  yards  to  our 
right. 

The  55th  had  one  killed  and  two  wounded  just  in  front  of 
us,  by  shells.  All  parts  of  the  line  advanced  from  one  to  five 
miles  to-day,  the  right  swinging  forward  farthest,  a-la-gate. 
Osterhaus'  headquarters  are  30  yards  to  our  right.  A  solid 
shot  from  the  mountain  went  through  one  of  his  tents  yester- 
day. It  has  rained  hard  all  day,  but  nobody  minds  it  a  par- 
ticle. The  general  feeling  is  that  the  Rebels  have  fallen  back 
to  their  main  position,  although  they  have  abandoned  ground 
that  we  would  have  held  one  against  five.  I  can't  hear  that 
any  line  of  battle  has  been  engaged  to-day,  but  the  force  on 
the  advance  skirmish  lines  was  probably  doubled  at  least.  You 
would  not  smile  at  the  idea  of  sleeping  on  the  ground  allotted 
to  us  to-night.  Mud  from  six  to  eight  inches  deep. 

Same  place,  front  of  Twin  Mountains, 

June  20,  1864,  ii  a.  m. 

Rebels  still  on  the  mountain,  a  good  deal  of  our  artillery,  a 
little  of  theirs,  and  not  much  musketry  this  morning.  Wheeler 
is  in  our  rear,  but  we  don't  care  for  that.  I  do  hope,  though, 
that  Forrest  will  not  be  allowed  to  come  over  here.  We  are 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  265 

all  well  and  feeling  fine,  but  wishing  very  much  to  see  the  level 
country  beyond  these  mountains.  In  a  "Commercial"  of  the 
1 5th  I  see  the  Rebel  loss  in  the  charge  of  Bates'  (Rebel)  divi- 
sion on  the  27th  of  May  was  72  killed  and  350  wounded,  and 
56  missing.  That  charge  was  made  almost  altogether  on  our 
brigade,  and  my  skirmish  line  did  three-fourths  of  the  damage. 
The  4Oth  Alabama  we  captured  the  other  day  inquired  for  the 
8th  Illinois.  They  fought  each  other  at  Vicksburg  and  got 
well  acquainted  in  the  rifle  pits.  McPherson  and  Logan  have 
just  gone  down  to  the  front  and  there  is  talk  of  a  fight  to-day, 
but  it  is  hard  telling  when  one  will  have  to  go  in.  Can't  tell 
until  the  order  to  "commence"  firing  is  heard.  Wagstaff  will 
be  home  in  a  few  days.  I  would  like  to  date  my  next  from  a 
new  place,  but  Sherman  and  Johnston  will  decide  that 
matter. 

This  is  becoming  tedious.  Johnston  has  no  regard  for  one's 
feelings.  We  are  all  exceedingly  anxious  to  see  what  is  the 
other  side  of  these  mountains,  but  this  abominable  Johnston  has 
no  idea  of  letting  us  take  a  look  until  he  is  forced  to.  He  is  a 
good-natured  fellow  in  some  respects,  too,  for  here  we  have 
our  "flies"  stretched,  and  our  camp  fires  and  our  wagons 
around  us  in  good  range  of  his  guns  and  not  a  shot  does  he 
give  us.  You  understand  that  we  are  in  reserve.  Our  front 
line  is  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  we  lay  back  about 
a  mile.  But  it  is  all  open  between  us  and  the  front,  and  we 
sit  in  the  shade,  and  (as  we  have  this  p.  m.)  see  20  Rebel  guns 
firing  on  our  men.  Why  they  don't  make  us  get  out  of  this 
is  beyond  me  to  tell.  Hundreds  of  wagons  and  ambulances 
are  parked  around  us,  and  right  by  us  is  parked  the  reserve 
artillery  of  our  corps,  all  in  plain  view  of  the  Rebels  on  the 
mountains,  but  not  a  gun  is  fired  at  us.  Yesterday  they 
dropped  one  shell  a  hundred  yards  to  our  right  and  quit,  as 
much  as  to  say:  "We  could  stir  you  Yanks  if  we  wanted  to, 
but  it  is  all  right." 

I  don't  know  how  this  looks  to  outsiders,  but  it  seems  to  me 
as  the  coolest  thing  of  the  campaign,  pitching  tents  right  under 
the  enemy's  guns,  without  a  particle  of  cover.  Being  under 


266  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

artillery  fire  in  a  fight  or  while  supporting  a  battery  is  all  right, 
and  if  we  were  in  rifle  pits  or  behind  the  crest  of  a  hill 
'twould  be  ditto,  but  moving  right  out  and  pitching  tents  un- 
der the  noses  of  Rebel  32-pounders  beats  me  and  I  guess  it 
beats  them.  We  all  feel  a  pride  in  the  thing  and  I'd  see  the 
the  Johnnies  to  the  devil  before  I'd  dodge  the  biggest  cannon 
ball  they've  got  there.  The  artillery  this  p.  m.  has  been  the 
heaviest  I  have  heard  this  campaign. 

June  21,  1864. 

No  variation  to  report  to-day.  Heavy  rain  yesterday 
and  to-day.  Some  350  prisoners  were  sent  in  from  the 
right  yesterday,  and  about  80  more  that  I  know  of  to-day. 
Figure  that  we  have  taken  about  3,000  prisoners  at  this 
place.  Since  the  army  went  into  position  here  the  right 
has  advanced  about  six  miles,  the  center  two  miles,  and  the 
left  three  and  one-half  to  four  miles.  The  musketry  from 
dark  last  night  until  n  p.  m.  was  very  busy  in  front  of  the 
4th  Corps,  though  it  may  have  been  only  a  heavy  skirmish 
line.  I  hear  to-day  that  the  4th  Corps  took  a  strong  Rebel 
position  last  night  while  that  firing  was  going  on  and  held 
it. 

June  22,  1864. 

Our  Adjutant  Wagstaff  is  out  of  the  service  and  the 
recommendation  for  Frank  Lermond  to  receive  the  ap- 
pointment has  gone  on  to  Governor  Yates.  Frank  is  well 
worthy  of  the  place  and  has  earned  it.  We  flatter  our- 
selves that  no  regiment  has  less  skulkers  than  ours  in 
battle,  and  we  have  through  the  corps,  a  name  that  Fulton 
need  not  fear  will  disgrace  her.  We  have  all  day  been 
ready  at  a  moment's  notice  to  support  the  4th  Corps.  Saw 
Chandler  yesterday.  He  is  on  M.  L.  Smith's  staff.  I  wish 
a  little  party  of  Cantonians  could  be  here  to-night  to  see 
the  artillery  firing.  Our  view  -of  the  Rebel  guns  is  excel- 
lent. With  glasses  we  can  see  them  load.  The  artillerists 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  267 

say  our  field  glasses  are  not  so  good.  Many  are  prophesy- 
ing that  the  Johnnies  will  vamoose  during  the  "stilly 
night."  Much  as  I  want  to,  can't  see  it.  Looks  like  too 
good  a  thing. 

June  23,  1864,  9  a.  m. 

The  Rebels  opened  furiously  from  the  mountain  last 
night  about  12.  Here  they  are  firing  at  a  division  of 
the  I4th  who  had  advanced  and  were  fortifying.  No  harm 
done.  I  failed  to  wake  up.  It  is  reported  this  morning 
that  Ewell's  Corps  has  arrived  to  reinforce  Johnston. 
Don't  think  it. will  make  him  strong  enough  to  assume  the 
offensive,  if  true,  and  don't  believe  it  any  way.  Artillery 
commenced  again  half  an  hour  since,  and  goes  on  slowly. 
Rebels  haven't  gone,  surely. 

Front  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  26,  1864. 
Nothing  worth  mentioning  has  occurred  since  my  last. 
The  usual  amount  of  artillery  and  musketry  have  kept 
us  sure  of  the  enemy's  still  holding  his  position.  I  have 
sent  you,  piecemeal,  a  journal  of  every  day  since  May  1st, 
excepting  the  last  four  days,  which  were  stupid.  It  prom- 
ises to  be  interesting  enough  now.  We  received  orders 
yesterday  p.  m.  to  be  ready  to  move  at  dark,  and  were  all 
glad  enough.  When  we  are  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  I 
believe  one  is  better  contented  in  the  front  line  than  any- 
where else,  though,  like  every  other  good  thing,  it  becomes 
old.  At  7  p.  m.  we  moved  out  and  it  took  us  until  2  a.  m. 
to  march  three  miles.  We  relieved  Jeff  C.  Davis'  division, 
which  moved  farther  to  the  right.  It  is  right  at  the  foot 
of  the  west  one  of  the  twin  mountains.  The  Johnnies 
shot  into  our  ranks  with  impunity.  They  have  to-day 
killed  one  and  wounded  three  of  our  brigade  that  I  know 
of,  and  more  in  the  ist  Brigade.  Dr.  Morris'  brother  is  the 
only  man  struck  in  our  regiment;  he  is  not  hurt  much. 


268  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

June  27,  1864,  daylight. 

The  battle  comes  off  to-day.  It  will  be  opened  on  the 
flanks  at  6  a.  m.  We  do  not  commence  until  8  a.  m.  Our 
brigade  and  one  from  each  of  the  other  two  divisions  of 
the  corps  are  selected  to  charge  the  mountain.  The  i/th 
A.  C.  will  try  the  left  hand  mountain.  If  we  are  successful 
with  a  loss  of  only  half  our  number  in  this  mountain 
charging,  I  will  think  our  loss  more  than  repaid.  I  believe 
we  are  going  to  thoroughly  whip  Johnston  to-day,  and  if 
we  fail  I  do  not  care  to  live  to  see  it. 

June  28,  1864. 

The  attack  was  not  general ;  it  was  made  by  our  brigade 
and  M.  L.  Smith's  Division.  We  lost  nearly  one-third  of 
the  brigade.  Our  regiment's  loss  is  17  killed  and  40 
wounded.  My  company  had  five  killed  and  four  wounded. 
Colonel  Wright  was  shot  quite  badly  in  the  leg,  and  Lieu- 
tenants Montgomery,  Branson  and  Bailey  were  killed.  In 
my  company  Corporals  Whittaker,  Myers,  and  Private  Sam 
Mclntyre,  Art.  Myers,  and  Jacob  Maxwell,  were  killed 
Sergeant  Breed,  Privates  Bishop,  Frank  Breed  and  James 
Williamson  were  wounded.  We  held  all  the  ground  we 
took  (under  our  fire),  but  had  to  leave  a  few  of  our  dead 
until  dark. 

On  the  p.  m.  of  the  26th  Colonel  Wright  told  me  that 
General  McPherson  arid  Colonel  Walcutt  (our  brigade 
commander)  had  been  out  through  the  day  examining  the 
ground  in  front,  and  that  it  was  in  contemplation  to  carry 
the  southwest  spur  of  the  mountain  by  a  charge,  and 
further,  that  it  was  not  impossible  that  our  brigade  would 
be  in  as  usual.  This  was  kept  quiet  in  the  command. 
About  8  p.  m.  I  was  at  Colonel  Wright's  headquarters 
with  several  of  the  officers  and  we  were  talking  the  matter 
over,  when  an  order  came  for  the  colonel  to  report  at 
brigade  headquarters.  I  believe  every  one  present  in- 
stantly concluded  that  we  were  to  fight,  and  knowing  the 
country  before  us  to  be  about  on  a  par  with  Lookout 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  269 

Mountain  you  can  imagine  we  did  not  particularly  enjoy 
the  prospect.  The  colonel  returned  in  about  an  hour.  We 
had  all,  I  believe,  fallen  asleep.  He  woke  us  and  said: 
"Have  your  men  get  their  breakfasts  by  daylight;  at  6 
a.  m.  the  fight  will  begin  on  the  right,  and  at  8  a.  m.  our 
brigade  will,  with  one  from  the  ist  and  2d  divisions, 
charge  a  spur  of  the  mountain."  I  turned  away  and  after 
notifying  my  orderly  sergeant  to  have  the  men  up  on 
time,  I  turned  in.  Thought  the  matter  over  a  little  while 
and  after  pretty  fully  concluding  "good-bye,  vain  world," 
went  to  sleep.  Before  daylight  in  the  morning  we  were  in 
line,  and  moving  a  few  hundred  yards  to  the  rear  of  our 
works,  and  stacked  arms  in  a  grove,  which  would  hide  us 
from  the  observation  of  the  Rebels  on  the  mountain.  You 
know  from  where  we  have  been  for  a  few  days,  we  could 
see  them  plainly.  Cannonading  commenced  on  the  right 
at  6  a.  m.  and  at  7:30  we  moved  a  half  or  three  quarters 
of  a  mile  along  our  lines  to  the  right,  after  piling  our  knap- 
sacks and  haversacks.  A  canteen  of  water  was  the  only 
extra  baggage  any  one  carried.  The  Rebels  caught  sight  of 
us  as  we  commenced  moving,  and  opened  a  battery  on  us  It 
had  the  effect  to  accelerate  our  movements  considerably. 
Right  in  front  of  a  Division  of  the  4th  Corps  we  halted, 
and  rapidly  formed  our  line.  While  forming  the  line  Cor- 
poral Myers  of  my  company  was  killed  by  a  bullet  within 
six  feet  of  me,  and  one  of  Company  K's  men  wounded. 
I  don't  know  how  many  more.  The  ground  to  be  gone 
over  was  covered  with  a  dense  undergrowth  of  oak  and 
vines  of  all  kinds  binding  the  dead  and  live  timber  and 
bush  together,  and  making  an  almost  impenetrable  abatis. 
To  keep  a  line  in  such  a  place  was  out  of  the  question. 
Our  skirmishers  were  sharply  engaged  from  the  start,  and 
men  commenced  falling  in  the  main  line;  at  the  same  time 
some  50  of  the  Rebel  skirmish  line  were  captured,  and 
many  of  them  killed.  A  Rebel  lieutenant  and  five  men  lay 
dead,  all  nearly  touching  each  other. 


270  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

I  understand  that  they  had  been  summoned  to  surrender, 
and  were  shot  either  for  refusing  or  before  negotiations 
were  completed.  Not  a  man  in  our  regiment  knew  where 
the  Rebel  works  were  when  we  started,  and  I  think  the 
most  of  them  found  them  as  I  did.  I  had  with  my  com- 
pany got  within,  I  think,  60  yards  of  the  Rebel  works, 
and  was  moving  parallel  with  them.  The  balls  were 
whistling  thick  around  us,  but  I  could  see  no  enemy  ahead. 

I  did  not  even  think  of  them  being  on  our  flank,  until 
one  of  the  boys  said:  "Look  there,  Captain,  may  I  shoot?" 
I  looked  to  the  right,  and  just  across  a  narrow  and  deep 
ravine  were  the  Rebel  works,  while  a  confused  mass  of 
greybacks  were  crowding  up  the  ravine.  These  latter,  I 
suppose,  were  from  their  skirmish  line,  which  was  very 
heavy,  and  trying  to  escape  us.  The  Rebels  in  the  works 
were  firing  vigorously  and  have  no  excuse  for  not  anni- 
hilating our  three  left  companies  K,  G  and  B.  The  right  of 
the  regiment  had  seen  them  before  and  already  started  for 
them.  I  shouted  "forward"  to  my  men  and  we  ran  down 
across  the  ravine,  and  about  one-third  the  way  up  the  hill 
on  which  their  works  were  and  then  lay  down.  There  was 
little  protection  from  their  fire,  though,  and  if  they  had 
done  their  duty,  not  a  man  of  us  would  have  got  out  alive. 
Our  men  fired  rapidly  and  kept  them  well  down  in  their 
works.  It  would  have  been  madness  to  have  attempted 
carrying  their  works  then,  for  our  regiment  had  not  a 
particle  of  support,  and  we  were  so  scattered  that  we  only 
presented  the  appearance  of  a  very  thin  skirmish  line.  If 
we  had  been  supported  by  only  one  line,  I  have  no  doubt 
but  that  we  would  have  taken  their  line  of  works.  Colonel 
Wright  was  wounded  a  few  minutes  after  we  got  into  the 
hollow,  and  Frank  Lermond  came  to  me  and  told  me  I 
would  have  to  take  command  of  the  regiment.  I  went 
down  to  the  center  and  the  order  was  heard  to  retire.  I 
communicated  it  to  the  left  and  saw  nearly  all  the  men  out, 
and  then  fell  back. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  27! 

I  could  not  find  the  regiment  when  I  came  out,  but  col- 
lected about  30  of  our  men  on  the  left  of  the  6th  Iowa,  and 
after  a  while  Colonel  Wright  and  Captain  Post  brought 
the  regiment  to  where  we  were,  when  we  formed  a  brigade 
line  and  threw  up  works  within  200  yards  of  the  enemy's, 
where  we  remained  until  9  p.  m.,  when  we  returned  to  the 
position  we  occupied  in  the  morning.  About  12  of  our 
dead  were  left  in  the  ravine  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's 
guns.  But  we  have  as  many  of  their  dead  as  they  have  of 
ours.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Barnhill  of  the  4Oth  Illinois,  and 
Captain  Augustine  of  the  55th  Illinois  were  killed  and  left 
on  the  field.  My  loss  is  five  killed  and  four  wounded.  Two 
of  my  dead,  Corporal  Whittaker  and  Artemus  Myers,  were 
left  on  the  field.  Loss  in  the  regiment  is  17  killed,  40 
wounded.  In  the  brigade  245  killed  and  wounded.  It  was 
a  rough  affair,  but  we  were  not  whipped.  The  prettiest 
artillery  fight  I  ever  saw  was  over  our  heads  in  the  even- 
ing, about  10  guns  on  each  side. 

June  29,  1864. 

There  was  a  night  charge  made  by  the  Rebels  on  our  right 
last  night.  They  got  beautifully  "scooped."  We  have  been 
laying  quiet  all  day.  Lots  of  artillery,  though  but  few  shots 
come  near  us. 

June  30,  1864,  8  a.  m. 

There  was  a  terrific  fight  on  our  right,  commencing  at  2 
this  morning  and  lasting  until  3.  I  have  not  yet  heard  what  it 
was. 

Some  deserters  passed  us  this  morning.  I  have  lost  just 
half  the  men  I  left  Scottsboro  with  just  two  months  ago, 
but  what  I  have  left,  are  every  man  ready  to  help.  We  have 
a  good  deal  more  than  "cleared"  ourselves.  I  had  my  canteen 
strap  cut  off  by  a  bullet  and  a  spent  glancing  ball  struck  my 
ankle. 


2/2  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

July  i,  1864. 

This  campaign  is  coming  down  to  a  question  of  muscle 
and  nerve.  It  is  the  62d  day  for  us,  over  50  of  which  we 
have  passed  under  fire.  I  don't  know  anything  more  exhaust- 
ing. One  consolation  is  that  the  Rebels  are  a  good  deal  worse 
off  than  we  are.  They  have  lost  more  men  in  battle,  their 
deserters  count  by  thousands,  and  their  sick  far  exceed  ours. 
We'll  wear  them  out  yet.  Our  army  has  been  reinforced  by 
fully  as  many  as  we  have  lost  in  action,  so  that  our  loss  will 
not  exceed  our  sick.  You  notice  in  the  papers  acounts  of 
Hooker's  charging  "Lost  Mountain,"  taking  a  large  number 
of  prisoners,  and  the  names  of  officers.  You  see  they  are  all 
from  the  3ist  and  4Oth  Alabama.  It  is  also  credited  to  Blair's 
I7th  Corps.  Our  brigade  took  all  those  officers  on  the  I5th  of 
June.  I  wrote  you  an  account  of  it  then.  It  hurts  us  some 
to  see  it  credited  to  other  troops,  but  such  is  the  fortune  of 
war,  and  soldiers  who  do  not  keep  a  reporter  must  expect  it. 
Colonel  Wright  starts  for  home  to-day. 

July  2,  1864. 

We  have  been  taking  it  easy  since  the  charge.  Our  shells 
keep  the  Rebels  stirred  up  all  the  time.  Sham  attacks  are  also 
got  up  twice  or  three  times  a  day,  which  must  annoy  them  very 
much. 

July  3,  1864. 

Rebels  all  gone  this  morning.  Our  boys  were  on  the  moun- 
tains at  daylight.  Hundreds  of  deserters  have  come  in.  Os- 
terhaus  moved  around  the  left  of  the  mountain  to  Marietta, 
all  the  rest  of  the  army  went  to  the  right  of  it.  We  are  about 
one-half  a  mile  from  town;  have  not  been  in.  All  who  have, 
say  it  is  the  prettiest  place  we  have  seen  South.  Some  artil- 
lery firing  has  been  heard  this  p.  m.  five  or  six  miles  south, 
and  there  are  rumors  that  an  advance  has  captured  a  large 
number  of  prisoners,  but  nothing  reliable. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2/3 

July  4,  1864. 

I  count  it  the  hardest  Fourth  I  have  seen  in  the  service. 
About  8  a.  m.  we  moved  out,  passed  through  Marietta,  which 
is  by  far  the  prettiest  town  I  have  seen  South  (about  the  size 
of  Canton),  and  continued  south  nearly  all  the  way  along 
our  line  of  works.  Marched  about  n  miles.  Not  more  than 
one-third  of  the  men  stacked  arms  when  we  halted  for  the 
night;  fell  out  along  the  roads.  I  have  seen  more  than  1,000 
prisoners  and  deserters. 

July  5,  1864. 

Can  hear  no  firing  this  p.  m.  It  seems  the  Rebels  have  got 
across  the  Chattahoochie.  We  are  about  12  miles  from  At- 
lanta. The  river  will  probably  trouble  us  some,  but  we  all 
think  "Pap"  will  make  it  before  August  1st.  Johnston  don't 
dare  give  us  anything  like  a  fair  fight.  We  are  all  in  splendid 
spirits  and  the  boys  have  made  the  woods  ring  with  their 
Fourth  of  July  cheers,  tired  as  they  are.  We  have  lost  no 
men  since  the  charge  of  the  2/th.  I  have  an  Atlanta  paper, 
giving  an  acount  of  that  fight.  They  say  we  were  all  drunk 
with  whisky  and  fought  more  like  devils  than  men. 

p.  m. 

We  have  continued  our  march  about  four  or  five  miles  to- 
day. Osterhaus  and  M.  L.  Smith  are  ahead  of  us  ,and  I 
think  we  are  on  the  right  of  the  army  again.  The  4th  Divi- 
sion, i /th  Army  Corps  is  engaged  one-half  mile  ahead  of  us 
or  rather  are  shooting  a  little  with  their  big  guns.  I  climbed 
a  tree  a  half  hour  ago,  and  what  do  you  think? — saw 
Atlanta,  and  saw  it  plainly,  too.  I  suppose  it  is  ten  miles  dis- 
tant, not  more  than  12.  The  country  looks  about  as  level  as 
a  floor,  excepting  one-half  mountain,  to  the  left  of  the  city, 
some  miles.  We  seem  to  be  on  the  last  ridge  that  amounts  to 
anything.  We  are,  I  suppose,  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the 
river  at  this  point,  though  we  hold  it  farther  to  the  right. 
Very  large  columns  of  smoke  were  rolling  up  from  different 
parts  of  the  city.  I  suppose  they  were  the  explosions  of  foun- 


274  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

dries,  machine  shops,  etc.  Dense  clouds  of  dust  can  be  seen 
at  several  points  across  the  river;  suppose  it  means  trains  or 
troops  moving. 

Have  seen  but  few  wounded  going  back  to-day.  We  are 
laying  along  some  very  good  rifle  pits,  occasionally  embra- 
sured for  artillery,  which  the  I7th  Army  Corps  took  this 
morning.  They  were  not  very  stoutly  defended,  though,  and 
the  artillery  had  been  moved  back.  With  some  pretty  lively 
skirmishing  the  line  has  been  advanced  this  evening.  Not 
much  loss  on  our  side;  saw  some  one-half  dozen  ambulance 
loads  only. 

July  6,  1864. 

I  went  down  to  our  front  this  evening.  Our  advanced  ar- 
tillery is  yet  some  1,200  yards  from  the  Rebels,  but  there  is 
nothing  but  an  open  field  between,  and  it  looks  quite  close. 
The  Johnnies  have  thrown  up  a  nice  fort,  embrasured  for  nine 
guns.  They  have  not  fired  a  shot  to-day.  The  captain  of  our 
advanced  artillery  told  me  the  Rebels  have  20  Parrott  guns  in 
the  fort,  and  excellent  gunners. 

We  moved  this  evening  one  mile  to  the  left  and  relieved  a 
portion  of  the  2Oth  Corps,  which  went  on  further  to  the  left. 

We  started  on  this  campaign  with  10  field  officers  in  our 
brigade  and  now  have  but  two  left.  Three  killed,  three 
wounded  and  two  left  back  sick.  I  hear  the  Rebel  works  here 
are  the  last  this  side  of  the  river,  and  but  few  hundred  yards 
from  it. 

July  7,  1864. 

The  shooting  still  continues  in  our  front,  but  hear  no  Rebel 
artillery.  The  water  here  is  excellent,  and  everybody  seems 
to  get  a  few  blackberries.  We  also  stew  grapes  and  green 
apples,  and  everything  that  ever  was  eaten  by  anti-cannibals. 
There  is  so  much  confounded  fighting  to  be  attended  to  that 
we  can't  forage  any,  and  though  fresh  beef  is  furnished  to 
the  men  regularly  there  is  some  scurvy.  I  have  seen  several 
black-mouthed,  loose-toothed  fellows,  hankering  after  pickles. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2/5 

Teamsters  and  hangers-on  who  stay  in  the  rear  get  potatoes, 
etc.,  quite  regularly.  I  do  not  believe  the  Johnnies  intend 
fighting  again  very  strongly  this  side  of  the  river.  Our  scouts 
say  that  between  the  river  and  Atlanta  the  works  run  line 
after  line  as  thickly  as  they  can  be  put  in.  Per  contra,  two 
women  who  came  from  Atlanta  on  the  6th  say  that  after  we 
get  across  the  river  we  will  have  no  fighting,  that  Johnston 
is  sending  his  troops  to  Savannah,  Charleston,  Mobile  and 
Richmond,  except  enough  to  fight  us  at  different  river 
crossings.  Our  scouts  also  say  that  the  Rebels  are  de- 
serting almost  by  thousands,  and  going  around  our  flanks  to 
their  homes  in  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  etc.  I  have  not  been  in 
a  house  in  Georgia,  but  several  citizens  I  have  met  in  camp 
said  they  had  heard  many  soldiers  say  they  would  never  cross 
the  river  with  Johnston  since  the  charge  of  the  2/th. 

Harrow  has  kept  our  brigade  in  reserve,  and  I  think  he  will 
continue  to  do  so  unless  a  general  battle  is  fought.  We  have 
suffered  more  heavily  than  any  other  two  brigades  in  the  army, 
and  when  we  started  we  were  one  of  the  smallest.  I  am  will- 
ing to  see  some  of  the  others  go  in  a  while,  though  I  want  to 
help  if  Johnston  will  stand  a  fair  fight  in  open  ground.  The 
chigres  are  becoming  terrific.  They  are  as  large  as  the  blunt 
end  of  a  No.  12  and  as  red  as  blood.  They  will  crawl  through 
any  cloth  and  bite  worse  than  a  flea,  and  poison  the  flesh 
very  badly.  They  affect  some  more  than  others.  I  get  along 
with  them  comparatively  well,  that  is,  I  don't  scratch  more 
than  half  the  time.  Many  of  the  boys  anoint  their  bodies  with 
bacon  rinds,  which  the  chigres  can't  go.  Salt-water  bathing 
also  bars  chigres,  but  salt  is  too  scarce  to  use  on  human  meat. 
Some  of  the  boys  bathing  now  in  a  little  creek  in  front  of  me ; 
look  like  what  I  expect  "Sut  Lovegood's"  father  did  after 
plowing  through  that  hornet's  nest.  All  done  by  chigres.  I 
believe  I  pick  off  my  neck  and  clothes  30  varieties  of  measur- 
ing worm  every  day.  Our  brigade  quartermaster  yesterday 
found,  under  his  saddle  in  his  tent,  a  rattlesnake,  with  six 
rattles  and  a  button. 


276  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

This  is  the  68th  day  of  the  campaign.  We  hope  to  end  it 
by  August  1st,  though  if  we  can  end  the  war  by  continuing 
this  until  January  ist,  '65,  I  am  in.  Reinforcements  are  com- 
ing in  every  day,  and  I  don't  suppose  we  are  any  weaker  than 
when  we  left  Chattanooga.  The  Rebels  undoubtedly  are,  be- 
sides the  natural  demoralization  due  to  falling  back  so  much 
must  be  awful.  My  health  is  excellent.  Remember  me  to  all 
the  wounded  boys  of  the  iO3d  you  see. 

Nine  miles  from  Atlanta,  two  and  one-half  miles  south- 
west of  railroad  crossing, 

July  9,  1864. 

On  the  evening  of  the  7th,  just  dark,  a  Rebel  battery  in  a 
fort  which  our  guns  had  been  bursting  shells  over  all  day, 
suddenly  opened  with  eight  2O-pound  Parrotts,  and  for  one- 
half  an  hour  did  some  of  the  most  rapid  work  I  ever  heard. 
They  first  paid  their  attention  to  our  batteries,  then  demol- 
ished some  half-dozen  wagons  and  20  mules  for  the  4th  Di- 
vision of  the  i /th  Army  Corps  half  a  mile  to  our  right,  and 
then  began  scattering  their  compliments  along  our  line, 
wherever  I  suppose  they  had  detected  our  presence  by  smoke 
or  noise.  They  kept  getting  closer  and  closer  to  us,  and  finally, 
a  shell  burst  in  front  of  our  regiment.  The  next  one  went  50 
yards  past  us  and  dropped  into  the  4Oth  Illinois.  Neither  of 
them  did  any  damage,  and  no  more  came  so  close.  An  hour 
afterward  we  fell  in,  and  moving  a  mile  to  the  left  and  one- 
half  a  mile  to  the  front,  occupied  a  ridge  which  we  fortified  by 
daylight,  so  they  might  shell  and  be  hanged. 

The  Rebel  skirmishers  heard  us  moving  as  we  came  over, 
and  threw  more  than  a  thousand  bullets  at  us,  but  it  was  so 
pitchy  dark  that  fortunately  they  did  us  no  damage.  From 
our  colors  we  can  see  the  fort  that  fired  so  the  night  of  the 
7th.  They  are  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  distant.  There 
have  not  been  any  bullets  or  shells  passed  over  us  since  we  got 
our  works  up,  though  the  skirmish  line  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
has  a  lively  time.  We  have  it  very  easy.  I  was  on  the  8th  in 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  277 

charge  of  a  line  of  skirmishers  on  the  left  of  our  brigade. 
The  Rebels  were  seemingly  quite  peaceable,  so  much  so,  that 
I  thought  I'd  walk  over  to  some  blackberry  bushes  50  yards  in 
front  of  our  right. 

I  got  about  half  way  out  when  they  sent  about  a  dozen  bul- 
lets at  me.  I  retired  in  good  order,  considering.  In  the  p.  m. 
of  the  7th,  the  skirmishers  in  front  of  a  brigade  of  the  2oth 
Corps,  and  the  Rebel  line,  left  their  guns,  and  went  out  and 
were  together  nearly  all  the  afternoon;  13  of  the  Rebels  agreed 
to  come  into  our  line  after  dark.  At  the  time  appointed,  heavy 
firing  commenced  on  the  Rebel  side,  and  our  boys,  fearing 
foul  play,  poured  in  a  few  volleys.  Through  the  heaviest  of 
the  fire  two  of  the  Rebels  came  running  in.  They  said  that 
the  13  started,  and  that  the  Rebels  opened  on  them.  The  rest 
were  probably  killed.  One  of  my  men  has  just  returned  from 
visiting  his  brother  in  the  2Oth  Corps.  It  is  reported  there  that 
the  23d  Corps  crossed  the  river  this  p.  m.  without  losing  a 
man.  The  heavy  firing  this  evening  was  our  folks  knocking 
down  some  block  houses  at  the  railroad  bridge.  The  4th 
Corps  to-night  lays  right  along  the  river  bank. 

July  10,  1864,  a.  m. 

The  Rebels  evacuated  last  night,  and  our  flags  are  on  their 
works  and  our  skirmishers  at  the  river.  A  number  of  John- 
nies were  left  on  this  side.  I  believe  they  have  every  time  left 
on  Saturday  night  or  Sunday.  Their  works  here  are  the  best 
I  have  seen.  Three  lines  and  block  houses  ad  libitum.  P.  m. — 
Every  Rebel  is  across  the  river,  and  our  23d  and  i6th  Corps 
are  also  over,  away  up  to  the  left.  It  is  intimated  though  that 
they  will  only  hold  their  position  a  few  days.  We  are  expect- 
ing orders  to  join  them. 

July  12,  1864. 

We  lay  quietly  in  the  shade  all  day  the  nth,  save  those  who 
had  ambition  enough  to  go  fishing,  berrying  or  swimming. 
The  other  bank  of  the  Chattahoochie  opposite  us  is  yet  lined 
with  Rebel  sharp-shooters,  but  there  is  a  fine  creek  from  which 


278  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

the  boys  get  some  fine  fish.  I  saw  an  eel  two  feet  long  which 
came  from  it.  Our  boys  never  have  made  any  bargain  with 
the  Johnnies  to  quit  picket  firing,  even  for  an  hour,  but  other 
corps  and  divisions  often  do.  It  would  almost  break  the 
heart  of  one  of  our  boys  to  see  a  Rebel  without  getting  a  shot 
at  him.  On  the  I2th,  at  5  p.  m.,  the  "General"  and  "Assem- 
bly" sounded  almost  together,  and  we  were  under  way  in  a 
twinkling.  We  understand  we  are  going  back  to  Marietta, 
and  then  over  the  river  where  the  23d  Corps  crossed  it.  We 
stopped  here  (about  seven  miles  from  Marietta),  at  n  p.  m., 
and  had  reveille  at  3  this  morning.  Stoneman,  with  at  least 
10,000  cavalry,  recrossed  the  river  on  the  night  of  the  loth  on 
a  grand  raid  between  Atlanta  and  Montgomery.  We  had  a 
real  amusing  scene  last  night.  About  12  o'clock  we  were 
nearly  all  asleep,  when  a  mule  came  charging  at  full  speed 
right  through  our  regiment.  In  an  instant  every  man  was  on 
his  feet,  and  all  who  knew  what  was  up,  were  swinging  blank- 
ets and  shouting  whoa !  The  most  of  us  did  not  know  whether 
a  cavalry  charge  was  on  us  or  the  devil.  Many  of  the  men 
caught  up  their  guns,  and  "treed,"  and  altogether  it  was  most 
ludicrous.  Our  regiment  now  marches  190  guns  and  7  offi- 
cers. I  have  20  guns,  all  I  started  with,  except  what  I  have 
lost  in  battle.  Just  half. 

July  13,  1864. 

We  passed  through  Marietta  this  morning  at  9;  rested  in 
a  cool,  nice,  woody  place  from  n  to  2,  and  made  this  place 
in  the  cool  of  the  evening.  We  marched  about  14  miles  to- 
day. I  would  rather  be  in  a  fight  than  endure  such  a  day's 
march,  and  I  think  fighting  lacks  very  much  as  deserving  to 
rank  as  amusement. 

I  saw  a  number  of  cases  of  congestion  of  the  brain,  and  a 
few  had  real  sun  stroke.  Saw  one  poor  fellow  in  a  grave- 
yard between  two  little  picketed  graves,  who  I  made  sure  was 
gasping  his  last.  Some  heartless  fellow  made  a  remark  as  we 
passed  about  his  luck  in  getting  sun  struck  so  near  good  bury- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  279 

ing  facilities.  After  one  heat  of  only  three  miles  the  regiment 
had  all  fallen  out  but  about  50  men,  and  we  had  more  than  any 
other  in  the  brigade.  If  we  had  been  given  one  hour  more  in 
rests,  we  would  not  have  lost  a  man. 

July  14,  1864. 

Another  hot  day.  We  marched  down  to  the  river  at  Roswell 
and  crossed  it,  and  have  gone  into  camp  on  the  bank  a  mile 
above  town. 

This  Roswell  is  a  beautiful  little  town,  such  splendid  trees 
all  through  it.  Our  cavalry  four  or  five  days  ago  destroyed 
some  very  large  factories  here.  Judging  from  the  ruins,  they 
were  more  extensive  than  anything  of  the  kind  I  ever  before 
saw.  About  1,000  women  were  employed  in  them;  700  of 
them  were  taken  by  our  folks  and  sent  to  Marietta;  I  *  don't 
know  what  for.  Can't  hear  of  any  enemy  here. 

July  15,  1864. 

This  is  a  glorious  place.  The  current  in  the  river  is  very 
swift,  and  it  is  the  nicest  stream  to  bathe  in  imaginable.  I've 
a  mind  to  stay  here  and  have  my  meals  brought  to  me.  Ex- 
pect we  will  catch  some  nice  fish  after  they  get  over  being 
scared  at  having  so  many  Yanks  bobbing  around  with  them. 
It  is  too  hot  to  write,  and  altogether  too  hot  to  enjoy  good 
health,  except  in  swimming.  We  are  all  glad  to  hear  of  those 
raids  into  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  Go  in  Imboden  and 
Early. 

July  16,  1864,  76th  of  the  Campaign. 

I  can  hear  no  firing  to-day,  but  we  are  so  far  from  the 
right  or  center  that  we  could  hear  nothing  less  than  a 
13-inch  mortar.  I  will  tell  you  all  I  know  of  the  situation 
just  to  let  you  know  how  little  a  soldier  knows  of  what  is  going 
on.  In  papers  of  this  date  you  will  see  twice  as  much.  The 
1 7th  Army  Corps  lies  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  and  to 
the  right  of  the  army,  six  miles  below  the  railroad  crossing, 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy  on  the  opposite  side.  Next 


280  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

comes  the  2Oth,  I4th  and  4th  on  the  same  side,  the  4th 
lying  across  the  railroad  four  miles,  further  up  the  23d 
crossed  the  river,  but  probably  only  holds  a  position,  as  we 
do.  Then  the  i6th  Corps  joins  the  left  of  the  23d,  and  the 
1 5th  last,  both  on  the  left  bank.  Not  being  perfect  in 
heavy  strategy,  I  can't  exactly  see  the  point,  but  no  doubt 
Sherman  does.  I  suppose  the  4th,  I4th  and  2Oth  Corps 
will  cross  near  the  railroad  bridge,  and  be  the  first  to 
occupy  Atlanta.  If  we  can't  get  to  give  Johnston  a  sound 
thrashing,  I  don't  care  about  marching  another  step  until 
fall.  Health  of  the  regiment  still  good,  but  we  are  expect- 
ing sickness  soon.  We  have  had  a  terrific  thunderstorm, 
killed  five  men  and  wounded  eight  in  the  i8th  Missouri,  and 
killed  a  teamster  and  some  mules.  I  never  saw  but  one 
or  two  more  severe  ones. 

June  17,  1864. 

After  erecting  some  good  works  at  Roswell  (the  best 
we  have  yet  built),  capable  of  holding  at  least  25,000  men, 
we  were  provided  with  three  days'  rations  and  cartridges 
"ad  libitum,"  for  another  of  what  an  Augusta  paper  calls 
"Sherman  leap-frog-like  advance."  Our  corps  is  the  ex- 
treme left  of  the  army.  We  moved  out  this  morning,  our 
brigade  in  advance  of  our  division,  and  Osterhaus  and 
Smith's  Divisions  following  on  the  Decatur  road.  Did 
I  tell  you  in  my  last  among  the  "locals,"  that  these  Roswell 
factories  have  been  turning  out  35,000  yards  per  day  of 
jeans,  etc.,  for  the  Confederate  Army,  that  there  is  the 
greatest  abundance  of  blackberries  and  whortleberries 
here,  that  one  of  the  48th  Illinois  was  drowned  in  the 
Chattahoochie  while  bathing,  and  that  of  several  hundred 
factory  girls  I  have  seen,  hardly  one  who  is  passably 
handsome?  Some  fine  fat  ones,  and  a  few  neat  feet,  but 
they  are  not  "clipper  built,"  and  lack  "get  up"  and  "figure 
heads." 

We  moved  six  miles  without  meeting  a  Rebel,  and  then 
only  a  squadron  of  cavalry  that  lacked  a  devilish  sight  of 
being  "chivalry,"  for  they  more  than  ran  without  just 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  28l 

cause.  We  only  went  two  miles  farther  and  then  bivou- 
acked. Our  brigade  was  thrown  half  a  mile  in  front  and 
across  the  road.  We  put  up  a  rail  barricade  across  the 
road  and  a  temporary  rail-work  along  our  front,  and  then 
abandoned  ourselves  to  the  longings  of  our  breadbaskets, 
and  desisted  not  until  every  man  was  in  himself  a  miniature 
blackberry  patch.  The  boys  brought  me  pint  after  pint 
of  great  black  fellows  they  had  picked  in  the  shade  of  dense 
woods  or  on  a  steep  bank,  and  I  assure  you  they  dis- 
appeared without  an  exception.  This  road,  the  last  10 
days,  has  been  filled  with  refugee  citizens  running  from 
the  Yankees.  An  old  gentleman  in  whose  yard  the  reserve 
pickets  have  stacked  their  arms,  told  me  that  all  the  men 
of  his  acquaintance  over  45  years  old  are,  and  always  have 
been,  Unionists,  and  are  to-day  ready  and  willing  to  give 
up  slavery  for  our  cause.  I  have  been  a  deluded  believer 
in  the  hoax  of  fine  "Georgia  plantations,"  but  I  assure  you 
I  am  now  thoroughly  convalescent.  I  haven't  seen  five 
farm  houses  equal  to  Mrs.  James — ,  and  only  one  that 
showed  evidences  of  taste.  That  was  where  I  saw  the 
Rebel  General  Iverson  dead  among  the  flowers.  The  coun- 
try is  all  hilly,  and  the  soil,  where  there  is  any,  is  only  fit 
for  turnips.  The  timber  is  all  scrub  oak  and  pine,  and 
some  more  viney  bushes  peculiar  to  the  climate. 

I  notice  some  of  the  white  moss  hanging  from  the  trees, 
like  that  there  was  so  much  of  at  Black  river.  The  i6th 
Corps  is  on  our  right  moving  on  a  parallel  road,  and  the 
23d  joins  them.  I  don't  know  whether  our  other  corps 
have  crossed  yet  or  not. 

Near  Stone  Mountain,  July  18,  1864. 

Osterhaus  (or  his  division,  for  I  hear  that  he  resigned 
and  yesterday  started  for  the  North,  en  route  for  Mexico, 
where  he  formerly  resided,  and  that  he  intends  entering 
the  Mexican  Army  to  fight  "]ohnny  Crapeau")  was  ahead 
to-day,  and  only  lost  a  dozen  or  50  men.  Our  brigade  has 
been  train  guard,  and  we  did  not  get  into  camp  until  n 


282  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

p.  m.  This  night  marching  hurts  us  more  than  the  hottest 
day  marching.  We  camp  to-night  near  Stone  Mountain, 
and  the  depot  of  the  same  name  16  miles  from  Atlanta. 
It  is  evident  to  me  that  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  is  doing 
the  "flanking  them  out"  this  time.  The  ist  Division  cut 
the  railroad  effectually.  A  train  came  from  the  East  while 
they  were  at  it,  but  discovering  the  smoke,  reversed  the 
engine  and  escaped.  The  i/th  Corps  I  hear  is  close  behind 
us  protecting  the  commissary  trains  and  forming  our  rear 
guard. 

Decatur,  Ga.,  July  19,  1864. 

To-night  we  are  in  Decatur,  six  miles  from  Atlanta. 
The  Rebels  were  yet  in  Atlanta  this  morning,  for  they  ran 
a  train  to  this  burg  this  morning,  but  they  may  now  be 
gone.  Our  line  of  battle  crosses  the  railroad  nearly  at 
right  angles,  facing  Atlanta.  I  think  the  23d  Corps  has 
swung  around  in  front  of  us,  and  the  i6th  Corps  is  now  on 
our  left.  Our  cavalry  had  some  fighting  after  i  p.  m. 
today.  A  citizen  says  there  was  nearly  4,500  Rebel  cavalry 
here.  A  small  portion  of  our  mounted  forces  made  a  half- 
charge  on  the  Johnnies  just  this  side  of  town,  and  the 
Rebels  stampeded.  They  knew  we  had  a  large  force,  and, 
of  course,  could  not  tell  just  what  number  was  coming  on 
them.  They  broke  down  every  fence  in  town  and  ran 
over  everything  but  the  houses  in  their  mad  panic  to  get 
away.  Our  men,  as  usual,  all  stopped  in  town  to  flank  the 
onions,  potatoes,  chickens  and  sundries,  in  which  they 
were  busily  engaged  when  the  Rebels,  who  had  rallied 
and  got  a  battery  in  position,  opened  right  lively.  Our 
men  drove  them  away,  and  then  all  hands  went  to  foraging 
again.  To-morrow  night,  I  think,  will  give  us  Atlanta, 
or  there  will  be  a  fair  start  for  a  new  graveyard  near  the 
town.  I  hear  no  fighting  on  the  right.  We  have  passed 
over  the  same  miserable  looking  country  to-day.  I  caught 
a  small  scorpion  to-day,  also  a  reddish  brown  bug  not 
quite  as  large  as  a  thrush,  and  as  savage  as  a  mad  rat. 
Wish  I  could  preserve  some  of  these  bugs  and  things ;  I 
know  you'd  like  'em 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  283 

July  20,  1864. 

Assembly  has  just  sounded.  In  a  few  hours  we  will 
know  if  it  is  to  be  a  fight.  Frank  says  we  are  detailed  for 
train  guard.  If  the  army  marches  right  into  Atlanta,  I'll 
think  it  d — d  mean,  but  if  there  is  a  fight  will  not  feel  so 
badly,  unless  we  can  get  a  big  battle  out  of  Johnston.  I 
want  to  help  in  that.  We  have  moved  up  near  the  town 
the  army  has  gone  on.  Can  hear  heavy  guns  occasionally, 
sounds  about  three  miles  away,  half  the  distance  to  the 
city. 

This  little  town  is  quite  an  old  place.  About  half  the  citi- 
zens are  still  here.  I  saw  a  couple  of  right  pretty  girls.  Some 
Confederate  prisoners  tell  me  that  Johnston  is  gone  to  Rich- 
mond, and  that  Hood  is  commanding  and  intends  to  fight  us 
at  Atlanta. 

The  wheat  and  oats  raised  this  year  in  this  part  of  Georgia, 
if  it  had  all  been  saved,  would  not  more  than  have  fed  the 
-citizens.  Full  one-half  the  cornfields  will  not  turn  out  any- 
thing. 

July  23,  1864. 

The  fight  came  off  the  22d,  and  a  glorious  one  it  was  for 
us.  Lieutenant  Blair  of  our  regiment  was  killed,  also  Charles 
Buck,  of  Company  F,  and  John  Smith  of  my  company.  There 
were  seven  wounded  only.  Our  brigade  gets  credit  for  400 
prisoners.  They  took  us  in  rear  and  every  other  way,  but  the 
repulse  was  awful.  Everybody  is  wishing  that  they  may  re- 
peat the  attack.  Generals  McPherson  and  Force  are  killed. 
(Force,  was  not  killed.)  Our  regiment  gets  credit  for  its  part, 
though  we  were  very  fortunate  in  losing  so  few.  Our  skirmish 
line  is  within  one  mile  of  the  town. 

July  25,  1864. 

We  moved  up  to  the  rear  of  the  corps  on  the  21,  and  had 
just  got  comfortably  fixed  for  the  night  when  orders  came 
that  we  should  report  back  to  the  brigade  on  the  front  line. 
Just  as  we  started  a  heavy  rain  set  in,  and  continued  while  we 


284  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

marched  one  and  one-half  miles  to  the  left,  where  we  stacked 
arms  in  rear  of  a  line  of  work  occupied  by  the  6th  Iowa.  The 
Rebel  line  lay  in  plain  sight,  just  across  an  open  field,  and  the 
bullets  made  us  keep  pretty  close. 

At  sunset  we  were  ordered  to  extend,  or  rather  build  a  line 
of  works  to  hold  our  regiment,  between  the  6th  Iowa  and  4Oth 
Illinois.  We  had  fairly  commenced,  and  the  boys  were  scat- 
tered everywhere,  bringing  rails,  logs,  etc.,  when  the  Johnnie's 
bugle  sounded  "forward,"  and  the  Rebels  raised  a  yell  and 
fired  a  couple  of  volleys  into  us.  There  was  a  lively  rush  for 
our  guns,  but  we  saw  through  it  in  a  minute,  and  in  three 
minutes  were  at  work  again.  Only  two  men  were  hurt  in  the 
regiment,  one  from  Company  C,  and  Wm.  Nicholson  of  my 
company  had  the  small  bone  of  his  leg  broken  just  above  the 
ankle.  We  got  our  works  in  shape  about  daylight,  and  about 
8  a.  m.  I  heard  a  cheer  from  our  skirmishers,  and  saw  the 
Rebel  skirmishers  run  right  over  their  works  like  deer.  Our 
line  followed  them  and  took  possession  of  their  works,  and  no 
Rebel  or  works  being  in  sight,  and  our  boys  knowing  they 
were  only  two  miles  from  Atlanta,  thought  sure  they  had 
the  town,  and  all  started  on  the  "double  quick"  for  it,  yelling, 
"potatoes"  or  "tobacco,"  or  what  he  particularly  hankered  for. 
They  got  along  swimmingly  until  within  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  from  town,  when  they  ran  against  a  strong  line  of 
works  and  were  brought  up  standing,  by  a  volley  therefrom. 
They  deployed  immediately,  and  by  the  time  their  officers  got 
up  had  a  good  line  established,  and  were  whacking  away  at  the 
fort  apparently  as  well  satisfied  as  if  they  had  got  their  to- 
baco. 

McPherson  had  an  idea  that  all  was  not  right,  for  our  line 
was  allowed  to  advance  no  further  than  the  one  the  Rebels  had 
left,  and  we  were  set  to  work  changing  its  front.  At  dinner 
when  we  were  about  leaving  "the  table,"  Captain  Smith  men- 
tioned hearing  some  heavy  skirmishing  in  our  rear  as  we  came 
to  our  meal.  That  was  the  first  any  of  us  knew  of  the  battle. 
In  a  few  minutes  we  all  heard  it  plainly,  and  from  our  works 
could  see  exactly  in  our  rear  a  body  of  grey  coats,  advance 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  285 

from  a  wood  and  the  battle  opened,  although  we  did  not  know 
what  troops  of  ours  were  engaged.  Have  since  heard  it  was 
a  portion  of  the  i6th  Corps  who  were  moving  out  to  extend 
the  line.  Their  being  just  in  that  position  was  a  piece  of  luck, 
as  it  saved  the  trains  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and,  per- 
haps, the  whole  army.  I  should  think  they  fought  an  hour 
before  the  battle  swung  around  toward  us.  During  the  battle, 
our  regiment  changed  position  three  times,  facing  east,  west 
and  south.  We  helped  repulse  four  charges,  took  115 
prisoners,  and  helped  take  400  more.  Also  ran  the  enemy  out 
of  a  line  of  works  they  had  taken  from  our  3d  brigade,  and 
the  best  of  it  is,  we  lost  only  ten  men.  I  cannot  for  my  life 
see  how  we  escaped  so  well.  General  Blair  is  reported  to  have 
said  that  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  is  eternally  disgraced 
for  going  outside  of  all  precedent,  in  refusing  to  be  whipped 
when  attacked  in  flank  and  rear,  as  well  as  in  front.  Hood 
confines  his  strategy  to  maneuvering  troops  for  battle,  and 
pretends  to  be  emphatically  a  "fighting  cock."  He  attacked 
Thomas  on  the  2Oth  and  2ist,  away  on  the  right,  and  on  the 
22d  walked  into  us.  He  got  his  comb  badly  cut,  and  if  I 
am  any  prophet  at  all,  will  not  attempt  another  fight  soon. 
Sherman  estimates  the  enemy's  loss  in  the  three  days'  fight- 
ing at  12,000.  Our  loss  in  the  same  time  is  less  than  3,500.  I 
am  surprised  that  we  have  not  attacked  them  in  return  before 
this,  but  am  far  from  anxious  to  charge  their  works.  Although 
I  do  know  that  if  we  charge  with  two  lines  as  good  as  our 
brigade,  and  don't  go  too  fast,  we  can  take  any  ordinary  works. 
The  prisoners  we  got  the  other  day  were  run  down.  When 
our  regiment  drove  the  Rebels  out  of  the  works  of  the 
3d  brigade,  a  man  shot  through  the  thigh,  asked  me  for  water 
as  I  passed  him.  I  asked  him  if  the  Rebels  robbed  him,  he 
said,  no,  but  they  killed  a  man  in  the  ditch  with  a  spade  right 
in  front  of  him.  I  looked  where  he  pointed  and  found  a  9/th 
Indiana  boy  with  his  thigh  broken  by  a  pistol  shot,  and  three 
cuts  in  his  face  by  a  spade.  He  was  not  dead,  he  knew  me, 
and  reached  out  his  hand  smiling.  He  said  an  officer  rode  up 
with  some  footmen  and  told  him  to  surrender,  when  he  shot 


286  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

the  officer  and  ran  his  bayonet  through  one  of  the  men.  An- 
other shot  him,  and  the  man  he  bayoneted  used  the  spade  on 
him.  McPherson  was  killed  early  in  the  fight.  The  Rebels 
had  his  body  a  few  minutes,  but  the  i6th  Corps  charged  and 
retook  it.  Altogether,  it  was  the  prettiest  fight  I  ever  saw. 

The  Rebel  plan  of  attack  was  excellent,  and  if  their  assault- 
ing columns  had  charged  simultaneously,  there  is  no  telling 
what  might  have  been  the  upshot.  As  it  was,  part  of  i/th 
Corps  changed  position  in  their  breastworks  three  times,  that 
is,  repulsed  an  assault  from  one  side,  and  being  attacked  from 
the  rear,  jumped  over  and  fought  them  the  other  way.  I  was 
up  to  where  the  2Oth  and  3ist  Illinois  fought.  The  dead  Reb- 
els lay  about  as  thick  on  one  side  of  the  works  as  the  other,  and 
right  up  to  them.  Two  more  fights  like  this,  and  there  will 
be  no  more  Rebel  army  here.  We  lost  about  600  prisoners, 
and  took  2,000. 

Garrard's  cavalry  division  went  out  to  Covington  on  the 
Augusta  road.  Am  just  going  on  picket. 

One  and  three-quarter  miles  southwest  of  Atlanta, 

July  29,  1864. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  Adj.  Frank  Lermond  sent  me 
word  that  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  was  going  to  evacuate 
its  position,  the  movement  to  commence  at  12  p.  m.  When  the 
lines  are  so  close  together  the  skirmish  line  is  a  ticklish  place. 

The  parties  can  tell  by  hearing  artillery  move,  etc.,  nearly 
what  is  going  on,  and  in  evacuation  generally  make  a  dash 
for  the  skirmish  line  or  rear  guard.  At  nearly  every  position 
Johnston  has  fortified  we  caught  his  skirmish  line  when  he 
evacuated.  Luckily  our  line  got  off  about  4  a.  m.  on  the  2/th 
though  they  shelled  us  right  lively. 

That  day  our  three  corps  moved  along  in  the  rear  of  the 
23d,  4th,  I4th  and  2Oth,  the  intention  being,  I  think,  to  ex- 
tend the  line  to  the  right,  if  possible,  to  the  Montgomery 
and  Atlanta  railroad  and  thus  destroy  another  line  of  com- 
munication. We  have  thoroughly  destroyed  50  miles  of  the 
Augusta  and  Atlanta  railroad.  The  i6th  Corps  formed  its 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  287 

line  on  the  right  of  the  I4th,  and  the  I7th  joined  on  the  i6th, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  28th,  we  moved  out  to  extend  the 
line  still  further.  At  12  m.  we  had  just  got  into  position 
and  thrown  a  few  rails  along  our  line,  when  Hood's  Rebel 
corps  came  down  on  Morgan  L's  and  our  divisions  like  an 
avalanche.  Our  two  divisions  did  about  all  the  fighting,  and  it 
lasted  until  5  p.  m. 

We  whipped  them  awfully.  Their  dead  they  left  almost  in 
line  of  battle  along  our  entire  front  of  two  divisions. 

It  was  the  toughest  fight  of  the  campaign,  but  not  a  foot 
of  our  line  gave  way,  and  our  loss  is  not  one-twentieth  of 
theirs.  The  rails  saved  us.  I  am  tired  of  seeing  such  butchery 
but  if  they  will  charge  us  that  way  once  a  day  for  a  week, 
this  corps  will  end  the  war  in  this  section. 

Our  loss  in  the  regiment  was  17  out  of  150  we  had  in  the 
fight,  and  the  brigade  loss  will  not  exceed  100.  I  never  saw 
so  many  Rebels  dead.  We  are  in  excellent  spirits,  and  pro- 
pose to  take  Atlanta  whenever  Sherman  wants  it. 

August  i,  1864. 

Since  the  glorious  battle  of  the  28th,  everything  has  been 
quiet  in  our  immediate  front,  though  the  heavy  artillery  firing 
continues  to  the  left.  I  think  it  is  between  the  I4th  and  2Oth 
Corps  and  some  Rebel  forts.  Prisoners  say  that  our  shells 
have  hurt  the  city  very  much.  We  all  think  that  the  last 
battle  is  by  far  the  most  brilliant  of  the  campaign.  Our  offi- 
cials' reports  show  that  we  buried  1,000  Rebels  in  front  of 
our  and  M.  L.  Smith's  divisions. 

In  fact,  our  two  divisions  and  two  regiments  of  Osterhaus' 
did  all  the  fighting.  Our  total  loss  was  less  than  550,  the 
Rebels  8,000.  In  the  last  12  days  they  must  have  lost  25,000 
men.  Our  loss  in  the  same  time  will  not  reach  4,500.  There 
is  no  shadow  of  gas  in  this,  as  you  would  know  if  you  could 
see  an  unsuccessful  charge  on  works. 

The  enemy  is  reported  as  moving  to  our  right  in  heavy 
force. 


288  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

August  5,  1864. 

After  the  fight  of  the  28th  July,  we  advanced  on  the  3Oth, 
3  ist  and  April  ist,  when  we  came  to  a  strong  line  of  Rebel 
rifle  pits,  densely  populated,  and  their  main  works  about  400 
yards  behind  the  pits. 

On  the  2d  details  from  each  brigade  in  the  corps  were 
ordered  to  drive  the  Rebels  out  of  said  pits.  It  was  done,  our 
division  capturing  78  prisoners.  The  Rebels  tried  to  retake 
them,  but  failed,  of  course,  leaving  with  our  boys,  among  other 
dead,  a  colonel  and  a  major.  Only  one  company  (K),  of  our 
regiment  was  in  the  fight ;  it  had  two  men  wounded.  I  was  on 
picket  there  the  next  day;  'twas  a  lively  place,  but  I  lost  no 
men.  Some  of  the  men  fired  over  100  rounds.  The  23d  and 
1 4th  Corps  have  swung  around  on  our  right,  the  object  being 
to  throw  our  line  across  the  Macon  railroad.  We  have  heard 
that  Stoneman  was  captured  with  400  men  at  Macon.  Kil- 
patrick  started  on  a  raid  yesterday.  Stoneman  burned  a  Rebel 
wagon  train  of  600  wagons,  and  sabered  the  mules.  Cruel,  but 
right.  The  I4th  Corps  yesterday  gobbled  700  prisoners. 
There  are  a  few  Rebel  riflemen  who  keep  the  bullets  whistling 
around  us  here ;  they  killed  a  Company  E  man  20  yards  to  the 
right  on  the  4th.  Health  of  the  regiment  never  better,  and 
that  is  the  best  index  of  the  morale. 

August  8,  1864. 

Never  was  army  better  cared  for  than  this.  No  part  of 
it  has  been  on  short  rations  during  the  campaign.  Extra 
issues  of  dessicated  potatoes,  mixed  vegetables,  etc.,  have 
bundled  the  advance  guard  of  General  Scurvy  neck  and 
heels  outside  the  pickets.  Extraordinary  dreams  of  green 
corn,  blackberries,  new  potatoes,  etc.,  have  done  very  much 
towards  keeping  up  the  health  and  morale  of  the  army, 
and  as  much  towards  reconciling  us  to  this  summer  sun, 
that  ripens  said  goodies. 

We  draw  supplies  of  clothing  monthly  as  regularly  as 
when  in  garrison,  and  a  ragged  soldier  is  a  scarcity.  At 
least  30  days'  rations  are  safely  stored  in  our  rear,  making 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  289 

us  entirely  unmindful  of  railroad  raids,  for,  if  necessary, 
we  could  build  the  whole  road  in  that  time.  The  heat  has 
not  troubled  us  much,  save  during  a  few  days'  marching. 

We  have  had  hardly  three  days  without  a  rain  for  a  month. 
We  have  done  a  great  amount  of  work  since  our  last  battle, 
have  constructed  nine  lines  of  works,  and  it  will  take  at 
least  two  more  before  we  get  the  position  that  I  think 
Howard  wants.  We  keep  those  poor  Johnnies  in  a  stew 
all  the  time.  Our  artillery  is  any  amount  better  than 
theirs,  and  it  plays  on  them  from  morning  until  night. 
Nothing  worries  troops  so  much,  though  compared  with 
musketry  it  is  almost  harmless.  I  guess  their  ammunition 
is  short,  for  they  don't  fire  one  shot  to  our  40.  I  think  we'll 
like  Howard  first  rate.  If  he  is  as  good  as  McPherson,  he'll 
do. 

Four  divisions  are  on  their  way  to  reenforce  us.  I  don't 
think  we  need  them,  but  the  more,  the  merrier. 

August  10,  1864. 

Our  "color"  that  has  floated  over  the  iO3d  for  nearly  two 
years  has  become  much  worn  and  torn.  One  shell  and 
bullets  innumerable  have  passed  through  it.  It  is  entitled 
to  be  inscribed  with  the  following  battles:  Vicksburg, 
Black  River,  Jackson,*  Miss.,  Mission  Ridge,  Dalton,  Resaca, 
Dallas,  New  Hope,  Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  At- 
lanta. It  has  been  under  the  enemy's  fire  72  days  on  this 
campaign.  Nearly  300  of  the  regiment  have  fallen  under  it. 

August  n,  1864. 

We  have  lost  35  men  since  Colonel  Wright  left  us. 
There  has  been  a  tall  artillery  fight  this  p.  m.  right  here, 
but  as  usual  no  one  hurt. 

August  20,  1864. 

During  the  last  few  days  cavalry  has  been  operating  on 
the  right  against  the  enemy's  communications.  We  have 
been  making  demonstrations,  as  they  call  it,  or  diversions 


290  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

in  favor  of  the  cavalries ;  that  is,  one,  two  or  three  times  a 
day  we  raise  a  yell  along  our  corps  line,  and  open  on  the 
enemy  with  cannon  and  muskets.  This,  aside  from  scaring 
them  a  little  (and  it  is  getting  most  too  old  to  do  even 
that),  does  but  trifling  damage,  for  at  the  opening  yell  they 
all  "hunt  their  holes,"  in  army  slang,  take  position  in  their 
works.  Everybody  is  satisfied  the  Johnnies  here  are  only 
waiting  for  dark  nights  to  evacuate. 

August  24,  1864. 

The  Johnnies  in  our  front  are  either  tired  out  or  short 
of  ammunition  or  inclination,  or  else,  like  the  quiet  swine, 
"studying  devilment."  Certain  it  is,  that  chey  shoot  but 
little  lately. 

Five  Rebel  batteries  which  have  thrown  shell  into  our 
division  line  did  not  on  the  2Oth  or  2ist  fire  a  shot,  on  the 
22d  but  two  shots,  and  in  response  to  a  more  than  usually 
vigorous  cannonading  on  our  part  yesterday  returned  not 
more  than  a  dozen  shots.  These  Rebels  just  opposite  are 
a  very  glum  set.  Won't  say  a  single  word,  though  the  lines 
are  at  one  point  at  least,  not  more  than  20  yards  apart. 
Whenever  I  have  seen  the  line  so  close,  our  men  invariably 
get  the  advantage,  and  keep  the  Rebels  down.  We  go  on  the 
skirmish  line  every  fourth  day,  but  with  ordinary  care 
there  is  little  danger. 

The  4th,  2Oth  and  i6th  Corps  are  preparing  to  start  for 
the  right.  The  raids  in  our  rear — on  the  railroad  amount 
to  nothing.  We  have  at  least  60  days'  rations  accumulated, 
and  could  rebuild  the  entire  road  in  that  time. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 


VI. 

August  29,  1864  to  February  13,  1865.  Wondering  what  the  Chicago  Con- 
vention will  do.  Covering  an  evacuation.  Marching  with  muffled 
guns  under  Silent  "Pap"  Sherman.  Tearing  up  railraod  tracks  by 
hand.  Fighting  near  Jonesboro.  Charging  a  South  Carolina 
brigade,  capturing  and  holding  the  rifle  pits  they  were  digging. 
Captain  Post  wounded.  Repulsing  sorties.  Bringing  off  the 
pickets.  Sherman  announces  occupation  of  Atlanta.  Congratula- 
tory orders  by  Howard,  Logan  and  Harrow.  Destruction  of  At- 
lanta. Guarding  the  neutral  ground.  On  the  march  again.  Sam- 
ple "grapevine"  dispatches.  Camp  humor.  Osterhaus  loses 
his  temper.  Tragic  fate  of  ten  stragglers ;  swift  revenge. 
Rubber  pancakes.  "Grabbing"  for  foraged  meat.  Three  witches. 
Marching  through  Georgia.  Destroying  our  own  "cracker  line" 
and  preparing  to  live  on  the  country.  Successful  and  abundant 
foraging.  Battle  of  Griswoldville.  Old  men  and  little  boys  among 
the  Rebel  dead.  Howard's  congratulatory  order.  Marching 
through  lonely  pine  forests  with  cheers.  Hampered  by  contra- 
bands. Gentle  Milly  Drake  and  her  slave.  Unanimously  chosen 
major,  vice  Willison,  resigned.  By  sea  to  Beaufort,  S.  C.  Why 
Buford's  bridge  was  found  abandoned.  Using  up  a  small  town 
to  build  bridges.  Burning  and  destroying  railroads  and  twisting 
red  hot  rails.  Wading  a  swamp  to  flank  the  Rebels.  Rear  guard 
of  the  corps. 

August  29,  1864. 

I  would  much  like  to  know  what  the  Chicago  Convention 
is  doing  to-day.  We  hear  there  is  a  possibility  they  may 
nominate  Sherman.  How  we  wish  they  would.  He  would 
hardly  accept  the  nomination  from  such  a  party,  but  I  would 


292  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

cheerfully  live  under  Copperhead  rule  if  they  would  give  us 
such  as  Sherman.  Sherman  believes  with  Logan,  "that  if 
we  can't  subdue  these  Rebels  and  the  rebellion,  the  next  best 
thing  we  can  do  is  to  all  go  to  hell  together." 

We  have  already  thrown  our  army  so  far  to  the  right  that 
our  communications  are  not  safe,  but  yet  we  can't  quite  reach 
the  Montgomery  or  Macon  railroads.  It  is  determined  to  leave 
the  2Oth  Corps  at  Vinings  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge,  and  I 
think  to  move  all  the  rest  to  the  right.  The  army  has  just 
moved  its  length  by  the  right  flank.  Looks  easy  and  simple 
enough,  but  it  took  three  days  and  nights  of  the  hardest  work 
of  the  campaign.  The  whole  line  lay  in  sight,  and  musket 
range  of  the  enemy,  not  only  our  skirmishers,  but  our  main 
line,  and  half  a  dozen  men  could,  at  any  point,  by  showing 
themselves  above  the  works,  have  drawn  the  enemy's  fire.  A 
gun,  a  caisson,  or  a  wagon  could  hardly  move  without  being 
shelled.  On  the  night  of  the  25th,  the  2oth  Corps  moved 
back  to  the  river  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge  seven  miles  from 
Atlanta ;  and  the  4th  moved  toward  the  right. 

Night  of  the  26th  the  I5th,  i6th  and  i/th  moved  back  on 
different  roads  toward  the  right.  The  wheels  of  the  artillery 
were  muffled  and  most  of  them  moved  off  very  quietly.  One 
gun  in  our  division  was  not  muffled,  and  its  rattling  brought  on 
a  sharp  fire,  but  I  only  heard  of  two  men  being  hurt.  Our 
regiment  was  deployed  on  the  line  our  brigade  occupied,  and 
remained  four  hours  after  everything  else  had  left.  At  2:30 
a.  m.  we  were  ordered  to  withdraw  very  quietly.  We  had  fired 
very  little  for  two  hours,  and  moved  out  so  quietly  that,  though 
our  lines  were  only  25  yards  apart  in  one  place,  the  Rebels  did 
not  suspect  our  exit.  We  moved  back  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
and  waited  an  hour,  I  think,  for  some  i/th  Corps  skirmishers. 
We  could  hear  the  Johnnies  popping  away  at  our  old  position, 
and  occasionally  they  would  open  quite  sharply  as  though  an- 
gry at  not  receiving  their  regular  replies.  When  we  were  fully 
two  miles  away  they  threw  two  shells  into  our  deserted  works. 
We  did  not  lose  a  man,  but  I  give  you  my  word,  this  covering 
an  evacuation  is  a  delicate,  dangerous,  and  far-from-pleasant 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  293 

duty.  There  was  a  Johnnie  in  the  "pit"  nearest  us  that  got 
off  a  good  thing  the  other  day.  A  newsboy  came  along  in 
the  ditch,  crying,  "Heer's  your  Cincinnati,  Louisville  and  Nash- 
ville papers."  Crack !  Crack ! !  went  two  Rebel  guns,  and 
a  Johnnie  holloed  "There  is  your  Atlanta  "Appeal!"  We 
caught  up  with  the  brigade  just  at  daylight,  it  was  raining,  but 
our  watch,  the  hard  march,  the  wear  and  tear  of  such  duty, 
made  some  sleep  a  necessity,  so  we  tumbled  down  in  the  rank 
smelling  weeds,  and  I  was  sleeping  equal  to  Rip  Van  Winkle 
in  half  a  minute.  In  half  an  hour  we  were  awakened,  took 
breakfast  and  marched  a  couple  of  miles  to  where  the  train 
was.  Here  somebody  got  Rebel  on  the  brain,  and  we  were  run 
out  a  mile  to  investigate.  We  stopped  in  a  nice,  fine  grove, 
and  I  didn't  want  to  hear  any  more  about  the  Rebels,  but  went 
to  sleep  instanter.  That  sleep  did  me  a  world  of  good.  I  woke 
about  4  p.  m.,  and  found  the  whole  regiment  with  scarce  a 
half-dozen  exceptions,  sound  asleep.  Finally  the  rear  of  the 
train  started  and  we  followed.  At  just  midnight  we  came  up 
to  the  train  corral  and  laid  down  for  the  remnant  of  the  night. 
At  6  a.  m.,  we  left  the  train  and  rejoined  the  division.  At  dark 
we  camped  on  the  Montgomery  and  Atlanta  railroad,  where 
the  mile  post  says  15  miles  to  Atlanta.  The  march  has  been 
through  a  miserable  rough  country. 

We  have  now  been  more  than  half-way  around  Atlanta, 
and  I  have  not  yet  seen  a  country  house  that  would  more 
than  compare  favorably  with  the  Coleman  Mansion,  or  a  farm 
that  would  in  any  respect  vie  with  the  stumpiest  of  Squire 
Shipley's  stump  quarter,  or  the  most  barren  and  scraggiest  of 
Copperas  creek  barren  or  brakes.  At  12  p.  m.  they  aroused 
our  regiment  to  tear  up  railroad  track.  In  one  and  one-quar- 
ter hours  we  utterly  destroyed  rails  and  ties  for  twice  the 
length  of  our  regiment. 

We,  by  main  strength  with  our  hands,  turned  the  track  up- 
side down,  pried  the  ties  off,  stacked  them,  piled  the  rails 
across  and  fired  the  piles.  Used  no  tools  whatever.  On  the 
29th  the  1 6th  Corps  moved  down  and  destroyed  the  railroad  to 
Fairburn.  On  the  3Oth  the  army  started  for  Macon  railroad, 


294  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Kilpatrick's  cavalry  in  advance.  He  did  splendidly.  Had 
hard  skirmishing  all  the  day.  Took  at  least  a  dozen  barricades, 
and  went  about  as  fast  as  we  wanted  to.  He  saved  the  Flint 
river  bridge,  and  our  corps  crossed  it,  and  by  12  p.  m.,  were 
in  good  position  with  works  within  one-half  mile  of  Jones- 
boro  and  the  railroad. 

Darkness  kept  us  from  taking  the  road  that  night.  The 
enemy  had  a  strong  line  of  pickets  all  around  us  and  we  built 
our  works  under  their  fire.  At  daylight  the  3ist,  we  found 
the  Rebels  in  plain  sight  in  front  of  our  regiment.  I  never  saw 
them  so  thick.  Our  regiment  is  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
division. 

Near  Jonesboro,  August  31,  1864. 

We  were  afraid  we  would  have  no  battle  this  month,  but 
our  fears  were  disappointed  in  a  very  summary  manner  this 
p.  m.  Hardee,  in  command  of  his  own  and  Hood's  old  corps, 
attacked  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  again,  the  weight  of  the 
assault  being  on  our  corps.  The  second  division,  M.  L.  Smith's, 
had  the  hardest  of  the  fighting.  The  position  our  regiment 
held  was  unluckily  too  strong.  They  did  not  dare  attack  us. 
But  we  had  a  splendid  view  of  the  fight,  both  on  our  right  and 
left. 

Six  Johnnie  lines  of  battle  debouched  from  the  woods  on 
our  left,  and  swept  right  across  our  front  on  open  ground, 
within  long  musket  range,  say  600  or  700  yards.  This  was 
2 :3O  p.  m.  They  were  coming  over  to  attack  the  i6th  Corps. 
A  five-gun  battery  on  the  right  of  our  regiment  and  two  guns 
on  our  left  opened  on  them  with  spherical  case,  and  threw 
some  canister.  They  had  hardly  fired  two  shots  when  a  Rebel 
10-pound  Parrott  opened  on  them  in  front,  and  a  Napoleon 
battery  on  our  left  flank.  The  Rebels  shot  admirably  and  you 
may  imagine  our  regiment  was  in  a  pretty  warm  position, 
though  our  works  and  traverses  made  the  danger  but  little. 

In  ten  minutes  from  the  time  we  first  saw  the  Rebels  they 
struck  the  i6th  Corps,  and  after  a  right  heavy  fight  of  near 
an  hour  they  came  back  flying.  Our  boys,  though  not  near 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  295 

enough  to  do  much  effective  shooting,  put  in  40  or  50  rounds 
apiece,  just  to  keep  our  hands  in.  About  the  same  time  they 
struck  Morgan  L.  they  struck  our  first  brigade  and  the  left 
of  our  brigade.  Our  division  repulsed  them  easily  and  Mor- 
gan L.  slaughtered  them  awfully,  but  he  had  a  hard  fight.  They 
charged  up  close  to  the  left  of  our  regiment,  but  owing  to  the 
direction  of  our  lines  not  where  we  could  fight  them.  Our 
brigade  took  one  colonel,  one  major,  three  captains,  one  lieu- 
tenant and  30  men  prisoners.  The  2d  division  took  several 
hundred.  I  can't  guess  what  their  loss  is,  though  it  is  not  as 
heavy  as  on  the  22d  or  28th  of  July,  for  they  did  not  fight 
nearly  as  well.  Besides  losing  a  host  of  men  in  this  campaign, 
the  Rebel  Army  has  lost  a  large  meaure  of  vim,  which  counts 
a  good  deal  in  soldiering.  Our  loss  in  this  fight  is  compara- 
tively nothing.  Say  30  men  in  our  brigade;  we  have  four  or 
five  scratched  in  our  regiment,  but  only  one  much  hurt.  A 
spent  12-pound  solid  shot  rolled  on  him. 

Kilpatrick  started  for  the  railroad  south  this  morning.  He 
has  had  a  big  fight  with  Cleyburn's  division,  but  don't  know 
much  about  it. 

During  our  fight  to-day  Schofield  and  Stanley,  23d  and 
4th,  took  the  railroad  and  are  destroying  it.  Hood,  with  Folk's 
old  corps,  are  above  him  and  cut  off  from  Hardee. 

September  ist,  '64. 

A  real  autumn  morning.  We  were  aroused  at  3  a.  m.  and 
the  air  was  then  almost  crisp.  A  breath  of  cold  air  is  a  luxury 
we  can  appreciate.  A  fresh,  cool  breeze  is  now  stirring  and  I 
can  almost  hear  the  leaves  falling.  It  is  a  real  yellow  fall  and 
does  me  more  good  than  aught  else  could,  except  a  letter  from 
home.  Haven't  had  one  from  you  for  ten  days.  A  prisoner 
says  that  yesterday's  fight  was  rougher  on  them  than  the  28th 
of  July  fight.  He  said  their  brigade  came  up  in  front  of  our 
men,  and  though  they  did  not  stay  more  than  long  enough  to 
take  one  look,  when  they  got  back  under  cover  they  were  500 
men  short.  They  afterwards  charged  again,  and  he  said  he 
doubted  whether  any  of  them  got  off  alive  and  sound. 


296  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

This  is  the  I24th  day  of  the  campaign,  exactly  90  of 
which  we  have  been  under  fire.  Have  also  moved  340 
miles,  though  the  direct  road  would  be  much  less.  The 
boys  say  we  just  finished  the  summer  campaign  in  time  to 
commence  the  fall  ditto.  I  guess  the  movement  surprised 
Hood.  Prisoners  all  say  they  understood  it  to  be  a  raiding 
party.  'Tis  a  rather  mighty  one. 

The  country  between  these  two  railroads  is  rather  better 
than  any  we  have  seen  before  in  Georgia,  but  I  never  saw 
any  in  Illinois  half  as  poor.  Hardly  any  of  the  land  has  been 
under  cultivation  since  the  war  commenced.  A  little  sickly 
corn  and  a  few  patches  of  sorghum  and  millet  are  about 
all  the  farming  evidence  I  have  seen. 

Northern  Alabama  and  a  few  counties  in  Mississippi  are 
the  only  passable  parts  of  the  Confederacy  that  I  have 
seen.  Mrs.  Lee  Henty's  grand  plantations,  with  their  "hos- 
pitable mansions,  whose  broad  verandas,  supported  by 
graceful  pillars,"  etc.,  are  principally  "bosh,"  at  least  as 
far  as  northern  Georgia  is  concerned.  The  health  of  the 
regiment  is  excellent,  the  men  being,  if  anything,  healthier 
than  the  officers.  The  lieutenant  colonel  and  major, 
though  both  with  us,  are  not  yet  reported  for  duty.  Cap- 
tain Boyd,  Lieutenants  Fox,  A.  &  J.  Smith  are  quite  unwell. 

Captains  Post,  Vorhees,  Smith  and  myself  have  at  dif- 
ferent times  been  all  the  officers  fit  for  duty.  I  believe 
I  am  the  only  one  who  has  never  been  off  duty  during  the 
campaign,  though  Post,  Smith,  Vorhees  and  Dorrance 
have  lost  but  a  few  days  each,  Smith,  I  believe  only  one. 
I  don't  believe  these  Rebels  can  be  in  very  good  spirits.  I 
am  afraid  I'd  be  a  little  blue  if  we'd  been  whipped  as  often 
as  they  have  this  campaign.  Most  of  the  prisoners  are 
great  "peace"  men,  but  they  all  say  that  their  leaders  will 
never  give  up  as  long  as  they  can  raise  a  brigade  to  fight. 
Every  pup  of  them  has  hopes  that  the  Chicago  Convention 
will  do  something  for  them,  they  hardly  know  what.  I 
heard  one  of  the  boys  say  he  wished  that  the  Convention 
could  be  induced  to  charge  us  in  these  works.  There's 
talk  of  our  going  home  to  vote. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  297 

About  2  p.  m.  a  signal  officer  in  a  tree  reported  that  he 
could  see  our  troops  moving  in  line  down  the  railroad 
toward  us.  It  was  the  23d  and  4th  Corps.  The  I4th 
which  held  the  left  of  our  line,  about  the  same  time  com- 
menced to  swing  its  left  around,  and  by  4  p.  m.  a  battle 
opened.  The  I4th  broke  the  enemy's  line  before  the  23d 
got  up,  and  alone  rolled  the  Rebels  up  in  fine  style.  By 
dark  the  I4th  had  captured  from  12  to  20  pieces  of  artillery 
and  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  Three  hours  more  of 
daylight  and  Hardee  would  have  had  no  corps  left,  for  the 
4th  and  23d  were  swinging  further  to  the  left,  and  would 
have  been  in  his  rear  in  less  than  two  hours,  when  our 
whole  line  would  have  closed  in  on  them. 

Six  miles  south  of  Jonesboro,  September  2,  1864. 

At  daylight  our  skirmish  line  moved  forward  and  found 
the  Rebels  gone.  When  our  boys  reached  the  railroad 
a  train  of  cars  was  just  loading  some  wounded ;  the  boys 
made  for  it,  but  it  outran  them.  They  left  a  number  of 
their  wounded,  and  when  the  I4th  broke  them  on  the  ist, 
we  captured  several  hospitals,  in  one  of  which  were  several 
officers.  I  saw  in  a  hole  by  a  hospital  two  legs  and  three 
arms.  One  can't  help  pitying  these  Rebel  soldiers.  They 
have  been  whipped  here  until  they  have  lost  all  spirit. 
They  don't  fight  with  any  spirit  when  they  are  attacked 
and  it's  more  like  a  butchery  than  a  battle.  Our  brigade 
in  advance  we  started  after  them.  The  looth  Indiana  and 
6th  Iowa  were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  met  the  Rebel 
line  almost  as  soon  as  they  started  forward.  They  drove 
them  finely  for  four  miles,  when  our  skirmishers  reported 
that  they  had  run  the  Rebel  army  into  fortifications. 

The  country  here  is  quite  open,  the  fields  being  from 
half  to  a  mile  or  more  wide,  bordered  by  a  narrow  strip  of 
wood.  The  46th  Ohio  and  our  regiment  were  now  de- 
ployed to  relieve  the  skirmishers,  and  take  a  close  look  at 
the  enemy's  position.  They  were  shooting  at  us  from 
some  rail  fences  within  range,  and  a  mile  away,  over  the 


2Q8  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

fields,  we  could  see  them  digging;  seemed  to  be  construct- 
ing a  line  of  pits.  We  pushed  forward  under  a  heavy 
skirmish  fire,  and  took  from  a  S.  C.  Brigade  the  line  of  pits 
we  saw  them  making,  and  went  on  a  little  way  until  we 
drew  a  fire  from  their  main  works,  when  we  retired  to  the 
pits  we  had  taken  and  prepared  to  hold  them.  Found  tools 
in  them.  This  was  3  p.  m.  About  dark  the  Rebels  made 
three  little  sorties,  but  only  in  light  force.  We  easily 
repulsed  them.  Captain  Post  was  wounded  in  the  right 
breast.  Loss  in  the  regiment  is  seven  wounded,  raising  the 
loss  in  the  regiment  to  178.  The  iO3d  and  46th  Ohio 
captured  19  prisoners  and  killed  and  wounded  at  least  25. 

September  3,  1864. 

Rebels  still  here.  Congratulatory  order  from  Sherman 
commences,  "Slocum  occupied  Atlanta  yesterday  at  n  a. 
m."  We  can  see  nothing  of  our  position  here.  I  don't 
know  where  the  23d  and  I4th  are.  Our  line  here  is  very 
crooked,  but  generally  faces  southeast.  Commencing  at 
our  right  our  line  runs  I7th,  I5th,  i6th  and  4th.  Kilpatrick 
is  on  our  right  or  in  the  enemy's  rear.  Can't  hear  a  word 
of  Hood's  or  Folk's  old  corps  or  the  militia.  Hardee  is  in 
our  front,  and  they  are  the  only  Rebel  troops  I  know 
aught  of.  Cheatham's  Division  faces  us,  and  a  S.  C.  Bri- 
gade is  opposite  our  brigade.  Captain  Wilkinson  was 
wounded  in  the  arm  to-day. 

September  4,  1864. 

Received  a  half  official  notification  to-day  that  the  cam- 
paign and  fighting  are  over.  Orders  to  clean  up  arms  came 
also,  and  the  boys,  showing  their  contempt  of  the  enemy's 
power  to  do  harm,  took  their  guns  all  to  pieces  and  set  to 
polishing  the  should-be  bright  parts,  right  in  view  of  the 
enemy's  pickets. 

September  5,  1864. 

News  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Morgan.  Orders  to  march 
at  8  p.  m.  I  was  detailed  to  bring  off  the  pickets,  which 
was  accomplished  without  trouble.  Rebels  did  not  know 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  2QQ 

when  we  left,  as  we  heard  them  shooting  after  we  got 
back  in  our  old  works  at  Jonesboro.  The  whole  army 
moved  into  the  works  we  built  the  3Oth.  I,  with  my 
pickets,  got  back  just  before  day. 

September  6,  1864. 

Lay  quiet  all  day.  Some  Rebel  cavalry  followed  us  up 
and  fired  a  few  shots  into  our  regiment's  works  .from  the  old 
Rebel  fort,  but  Osterhaus  swung  his  pickets  around  and 
gobbled  25  of  them,  and  the  rest  troubled  us  no  more. 

September  7,  1864. 

At  7  a.  m.  moved  out  on  our  return,  and  camped  for  the 
night  on  the  left  bank  of  Flint  river,  six  miles  south  of  East- 
point.  The  Rebels  had  fortified  to  this  place,  and  I  don't  know 
how  much  farther  south.  As  soon  as  Hood  found  out  that 
Sherman  was  attempting  to  turn  his  left,  he  commenced  ex- 
tending his  lines  down  the  railroad.  He  had  built  six  miles  of 
new  works  when  we  reached  Jonesboro  the  night  of  the  3Oth 
of  August.  His  line  was  too  long  for  his  troops,  so  he  sent  two 
corps  to  oppose  us,  and  the  23d  and  4th  moved  into  the  vacant 
space  in  his  line  right  over  his  works. 

Near  Eastpoint,  September  8,  1864. 

We  are  again  in  camp  for  a  rest;  don't  know  for  how  long. 
What  do  you  think  now  of  the  confidence  I  have  so  often  ex- 
pressed to  you  in  Sherman  and  his  army?  I  have  every  hour 
of  the  campaign  felt  that  a  failure  in  it  was  impossible. 

The  following  complimentary  orders  were  issued,  as  dated 
immediately  after  our  going  into  camp  at  Eastpoint: 

HEADQUARTERS  DEP'T.  AND  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE, 

Eastpoint,  Ga.,  September  9,  1864. 
GENERAL  FIELD  ORDERS, 

No.  16 

It  is  with  pride,  gratification,  and  a  sense  of  Divine  favor 
that  I  congratulate  this  noble  army  upon  the  successful  termi- 
nation of  the  campaign. 

Your  officers  claim  for  you  a  wonderful  record — for  exam- 
ple, a  march  of  four  hundred  (400)  miles,  thirteen  (13)  dis- 


3OO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

tinct  engagements,  four  thousand  (4,000)  prisoners,  and 
twenty  (20)  stands  of  colors  captured,  and  three  thousand 
(3,000)  of  the  enemy's  dead  buried  in  your  front. 

Your  movements  upon  the  enemy's  flank  have  been  bold  and 
successful ;  first  upon  Resaca,  second  upon  Dallas,  third  upon 
Kenesaw,  fourth  upon  Nickajack,  fifth  via  Rose  well,  upon  the 
Augusta  railroad,  sixth  upon  "Ezra  Church"  to  the  south- 
west of  Atlanta,  and  seventh  upon  Jonesboro  and  the  Macon 
railroad.  Atlanta  was  evacuated  while  you  were  fighting  at 
Jonesboro.  The  country  may  never  know  with  what  patience, 
labor  and  exposure,  you  have  tugged  away  at  every  natural 
and  artificial  obstacle  that  an  enterprising  and  confident  enemy 
could  interpose. 

The  terrific  battles  you  have  fought  may  never  be  realized 
or  credited,  still  a  glad  acclaim  is  already  greeting  you  from 
the  government  and  people,  in  view  of  the  results  you  have 
helped  to  gain,  and  I  believe  a  sense  of  the  magnitude  of  the 
achievements  of  the  last  hundred  days  will  not  abate  but  in- 
crease with  time  and  history. 

Our  rejoicing  is  tempered,  as  it  always  must  be,  by  the  sol- 
dier's sorrow  at  the  loss  of  his  companions-in-arms.  On  every 
hillside,  in  every  valley  throughout  your  long  and  circuitous 
route,  from  Dalton  to  Jonesboro,  you  have  buried  them. 

Your  trusted  and  beloved  commander  fell  in  your  midst ;  his 
name,  the  name  of  McPnERSON,  carries  with  it  a  peculiar  feel- 
ing of  sorrow.  I  trust  the  impress  of  his  character  is  upon 
you  all  to  incite  you  to  generous  actions  and  noble  deeds. 

To  mourning  friends,  and  to  all  the  disabled  in  battle,  you 
extend  a  soldier's  sympathy. 

My  first  intimate  acquaintance  with  you  dates  from  the  28th 
of  July.  I  never  beheld  fiercer  assaults  than  the  enemy  then 
made,  and  I  never  saw  troops  more  steady  and  self-possessed 
in  action  than  your  divisions  which  were  then  engaged. 

I  have  learned  that  for  cheerfulness,  obedience,  rapidity  of 
movement,  and  confidence  in  battle,  the  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see is  not  to  be  surpassed,  and  it  shall  be  my  study  that  your 
fair  record  shall  continue,  and  my  purpose  to  assist  you  to 
move  steadily  forward  and  float  the  old  Flag  in  every  proud 
city  of  the  rebellion. 

(Signed)     O.  O.  HOWARD, 

Major  General. 
(OFFICIAL) 

SAM'L  L.  TAGGART, 

Ass't.  Adj't.  Gen' I. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  30! 

HEADQUARTERS  FIFTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

EASTPOINT,  GA.,  September  n,  1864. 

Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps: 

You  have  borne  your  part  in  the  accomplishment  of  the 
object  of  this  campaign,  a  part  well  and  faithfully  done. 

On  the  ist  day  of  May,  1864,  from  Huntsville,  Ala.,  and  its 
vicinity,  you  commenced  the  march.  The  marches  and  labors 
performed  by  you  during  this  campaign  will  hardly  find  a 
parallel  in  the  history  of  war.  The  proud  name  heretofore 
acquired  by  the  I5th  Corps  for  soldierly  bearing  and  daring 
deeds  remains  untarnished — its  lustre  undimmed.  During  the 
campaign  you  constituted  the  main  portion  of  the  flanking 
column  of  the  whole  army.  Your  first  move  against  the  enemy 
was  around  the  right  of  the  army  at  Resaca,  where,  by  your 
gallantry,  the  enemy  were  driven  from  the  hills  and  his  works 
on  the  main  road  from  Vilanaw  to  Resaca.  On  the  retreat  of 
the  enemy,  you  moved  on  the  right  flank  of  the  army  by  a 
circuitous  route  to  Adairsville,  in  the  same  manner  from  there 
to  Kingston  and  Dallas,  where,  on  the  28th  day  of  May,  you 
met  the  veteran  corps  of  HARDEE,  and  in  a  severe  and  bloody 
contest  you  hurled  him  back,  killing  and  wounding  over  two 
thousand,  besides  capturing  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  You 
then  moved  around  to  the  left  of  the  army,  by  way  of  Acworth, 
to  Kenesaw  Mountain,  where  again  you  met  the  enemy,  driv- 
ing him  from  three  lines  of  works,  capturing  over  three  hun- 
dred prisoners.  During  your  stay  in  front  of  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, on  the  27th  of  June,  you  made  one  of  the  most  daring, 
bold  and  heroic  charges  of  the  war,  against  the  almost  impreg- 
nable position  of  the  enemy  on  Little  Kenesaw.  You  were  then 
moved,  by  way  of  Marietta,  to  Nickajack  Creek,  on  the  right 
of  the  army,  thence  back  to  the  extreme  left  by  way  of  Mari- 
etta and  Roswell,  to  the  Augusta  railroad,  near  Stone  Moun- 
tain, a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  and  after  effectually  destroying 
the  railroad  at  this  point,  you  moved  by  way  of  Decatur  to  the 
immediate  front  of  the  Rebel  stronghold,  Atlanta.  Here,  on 
the  22d  day  of  July,  you  again  performed  your  duty  nobly,  "as 
patriots  and  soldiers"  in  one  of  the  most  severe  and  sanguinary 
conflicts  of  the  campaign.  With  hardly  time  to  recover  your 
almost  exhausted  energies,  you  were  moved  again  around  to 
the  right  of  the  army,  only  to  encounter  the  same  troops  against 
whom  you  had  so  recently  contended,  and  the  battle  of  the 
28th  of  July,  at  Ezra  Chapel,  will  long  be  remembered  by  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  this  command.  On  that  day  it  was  that 
the  1 5th  Corps  almost  unaided  and  alone,  for  four  hours  con- 


3O2  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

tested  the  field  against  the  Corps  of  HARDEE  and  LEE..  You 
drove  them  discomfited  from  the  field  causing  them  to  leave 
their  dead  and  many  of  their  wounded  in  your  hands.  The 
many  noble  and  gallant  deeds  performed  by  you  on  that  day 
will  be  remembered  among  the  proudest  acts  of  our  nation's 
history.  After  pressing  the  enemy  closely  for  several  days, 
you  again  moved  to  the  right  of  the  army,  to  the  West  Point 
railroad,  near  Fairburn — after  completely  destroying  the  road 
for  some  distance,  you  marched  to  Jonesboro,  driving  the 
enemy  before  you  from  Pond  creek,  a  distance  of  ten  miles. 
At  this  point  you  again  met  the  enemy,  composed  of  LEE'S 
and  HARDEE'S  Corps,  on  the  3ist  of  August,  and  punished 
them  severely,  driving  them  in  confusion  from  the  field,  with 
their  dead  and  many  wounded  and  prisoners  left  in  your  hands. 
Here  again  by  your  skill  and  true  courage  you  kept  sacred  the 
reputation  you  have  so  long  maintained,  viz.:  "The  I5th 
Corps  never  meets  the  enemy  but  to  strike  and  defeat  him." 
On  the  ist  of  September,  the  I4th  Corps  attacked  HARDEE, 
you  at  once  opened  fire  on  him,  and  by  your  co-operation  his 
defeat  became  a  rout.  HOOD,  hearing  the  news,  blew  up  his 
ammunition  trains,  retreated,  and  Atlanta  was  ours. 

You  have  marched  during  the  campaign,  in  your  windings, 
the  distance  of  four  hundred  miles,  have  put  "hors-du-combat" 
more  of  the  enemy  than  your  corps  numbers,  have  captured 
twelve  stands  of  colors,  2,450  prisoners  and  210  deserters. 

The  course  of  your  march  is  marked  by  the  graves  of  patri- 
otic heroes  who  have  fallen  by  your  side ;  but  at  the  same  time 
it  is  more  plainly  marked  by  the  blood  of  traitors  who  have 
defied  the  constitution  and  laws,  insulted  and  trampled  under 
foot  the  glorious  flag  of  our  country. 

We  deeply  sympathize  with  the  friends  of  those  of  our  com- 
rades-in-arms who  have  fallen;  our  sorrows  are  only  appeased 
by  the  knowledge  that  they  fell  as  brave  men,  battling  for  the 
preservation  and  perpetuation  of  one  of  the  best  governments 
of  earth.  "Peace  be  to  their  ashes." 

You  now  rest  for  a  short  time  from  your  labors ;  during  the 
respite  prepare  for  future  action.  Let  your  country  see  at  all 
times  by  your  conduct  that  you  love  the  cause  you  have  es- 
poused; that  you  have  no  sympathy  with  any  who  would  by 
word  or  deed  assist  vile  traitors  in  dismembering  our  mighty 
Republic  or  trailing  in  the  dust  the  emblem  of  our  national 
greatness  and  glory.  You  are  the  defenders  of  a  government 
that  has  blessed  you  heretofore  with  peace,  happiness  and  pros- 
perity. Its  perpetuity  depends  upon  your  heroism,  faithfulness 
.and  devotion. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  303 

When  the  time  shall  come  to  go  forward  again,  let  us  go 
with  the  determination  to  save  our  nation  from  threatened 
wreck  and  hopeless  ruin,  not  forgetting  the  appeal  from 
widows  and  orphans  that  is  borne  to  us  upon  every  breeze  to 
avenge  the  loss  of  their  loved  ones  who  have  fallen  in  de- 
fense of  their  country.  Be  patient,  obedient  and  earnest,  and 
the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  you  can  return  to  your  homes 
with  the  proud  consolation  that  you  have  assisted  in  causing 
the  old  banner  to  again  wave  from  every  mountain's  top  and 
over  every  town  and  hamlet  of  our  once  happy  land,  and  hear 
the  shouts  of  triumph  ascend  from  a  grateful  people,  proclaim- 
ing that  once  more  we  have  one  flag  and  one  country. 

JOHN  A.  LOGAN, 

Major  General  Commanding. 

HEADQUARTERS  4TH  DIVISION,  ISTH  A.  C. 

EASTPOINT,  GA.,  September  13,  1864. 

Officers  and  Soldiers: 

The  commander-in-chief,  the  department  commander,  and 
corps  officer  have  each  expressed  to  you  their  approbation  of 
your  conduct  during  the  campaign  just  closed.  They  have 
spoken  in  general  terms  to  the  army,  the  department  and  corps. 

It  is  my  privilege  to  address  your  immediate  organization. 
Your  department  commander  announces  the  capture  of  four 
thousand  (4,000)  prisoners  by  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 
You  have  taken  one-third  of  that  number.  This  army  has 
taken  from  the  enemy  twenty  (20)  battleflags;  eight  of  these 
were  wrested  from  him  by  your  prowess. 

Your  lists  of  killed  and  wounded  in  battle  are  larger  by 
one-half  than  any  other  division  in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

You  have  destroyed  as  many  of  the  enemy  as  any  similar 
organization  in  the  entire  army. 

You  have  never  been  defeated  in  this  or  any  other  campaign. 

Your  record  is  therefore  spotless,  and  you  should  be  and 
doubtless  are  proud  of  it.  Your  friends  at  home  and  the  corn- 
try  at  large  will  some  day  understand  and  appreciate  your 
conduct. 

Had  your  lamented  department  commander  been  spared,  his 
familiarity  with  your  history,  and  identification  with  your- 
selves, would  have  commanded  for  you  more  complete  justice. 
Your  corps  commander  is  not  now,  nor  has  he  ever  been,  slow 
to  acknowledge  your  merits,  but  he  is  powerless  to  do  more. 


304  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Your  organization  will  probably  soon  be  changed,  and  the 
stranger  to  you  will  reap  the  reward  of  your  devotion  and  self- 
sacrifice.  The  just  reward,  always  so  highly  prized  by  the 
true  soldier,  may  not  be  yours,  but  the  consciousness  of  duty 
well  performed  will  remain  with  you  forever.  You  will  sus- 
tain your  high  reputation  by  doing  battle,  as  heretofore,  for 
your  country,  and  not  for  men.  Do  so  cheerfully.  My  con- 
nection with  you  as  your  division  commander  may  possibly 
soon  be  severed.  Support  any  future  officer  as  you  have  sup- 
ported me,  and  success  must  attend  your  efforts.  I  ask  from 
you  the  same  kind  of  remembrance  I  shall  ever  give  to  each 
true  soldier  of  this  command. 

(Signed)     WILLIAM  HARROW, 

Brigadier  General  U.  S.  Vols. 

EXPLANATORY  NOTE. 

[The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  remained  at,  or  near,  East 
Point,  until  October  4th.  When  General  Sherman  decided 
to  destroy  Atlanta,  he  gave  the  inhabitants  their  choice  as 
to  where  they  would  go,  either  north,  south,  or  remain, 
and  take  their  chances  in  the  ruined  city.  Prisoners 
captured  during  the  campaign  were  also  exchanged, 
and  a  detail  of  some  70  or  80  men  from  the  regiment, 
commanded  by  Captain  Wills,  and  a  like  command 
from  the  looth  Indiana,  was  given  the  duty  of  guard- 
ing the  "neutral  ground"  at  a  place  called  Rough  and 
Ready,  some  eight  or  ten  miles  south  of  Atlanta.  This 
duty  being  performed,  the  detail  rejoined  the  regiment, 
having  been  so  occupied  about  ten  days.  The  4th  Division 
was  here  broken  up,  and  the  "old  2d  Brigade"  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  ist  Division,  commanded  by  Gen.  C.  R. 
Wood.] 

The  diary  is  now  resumed. 

October  4,  1864. 

We  have  been  expecting  to  move  for  several  days.  The 
Rebels  have  crossed  the  Chattanooga  and  are  moving  on 
our  rear,  a  la  Jonesboro.  If  half  the  force  they  took  over 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  305 

get  back  I'll  be  much  disappointed.  We  yesterday  sent 
our  extra  baggage  to  Atlanta  to  store,  and  at  n  last  night 
orders  came  to  march  at  5  a.  m.  to-day.  We  will  be  off 
in  a  few  minutes  now.  Marietta  is  in  our  route  direction. 

Six  miles  south  of  Marietta,  October  5,  1864. 

Had  an  awful  day's  march  yesterday,  full  20  miles  and 
the  road  very  muddy  and  slippery.  County  peculiarly 
Georgian,  the  like  of  which,  I  hope,  is  to  be  found  nowhere 
else  in  Uncle  Sam's  domain.  When  we  started  the  "spring 
or  grapevine"  dispatch  said  that  Hardee's  headquarters 
were  in  Marietta,  and  that  he  was  living  very  high  on 
sanitary  stores,  of  which  there  is  enough  to  feed  an  army 
for  a  time.  We  crossed  the  river  on  pontoons  near  the 
railroad  bridge,  a  very  fine  work,  considering  it  was  built 
inside  of  a  week. 

We  then  heard  that  Marietta  was  not  in  Hardee's  posses- 
sion, but  that  lively  skirmishing  was  going  on  along  the 
lines,  and  that  Hardee's  army  was  before  the  place.  About 
three  miles  from  the  river  we  met  a  wagon  train  just  from 
Marietta ;  part  of  the  guards  had  not  heard  that  any  Rebels 
were  near  the  town.  Others  said  that  Hood's  army  was 
just  the  other  side  of  Kenesaw,  about  two  miles  north  of 
Marietta.  Finally  a  cavalry  man  said  part  of  our  (guard's) 
cavalry  occupied  Kenesaw,  from  the  top  of  which  he  had 
seen  the  Rebel  army  occupying  an  old  line  of  works  of 
ours  just  this  side  of  Big  Shanty.  I  just  thought  I  would 
give  you  a  sample  of  the  "grape  cuttings"  that  accompany 
a  march.  A  body  of  Rebels  is  evidently  above  Marietta, 
on  the  railroad ;  how  strong  I  don't  know,  and  it  is  none  of 
my  business.  "Pap"  knows  all  about  it.  He  never  tells 
us  anything.  He  has  not  issued  a  "battle  order"  during  the 
whole  campaign  and  hardly  a  congratulatory.  If  the 
Rebels  are  there  in  force,  there  will  be  a  battle.  It  can 
have  but  one  result,  and  cannot  fail  to  be  a  disastrous  one 
for  them.  We  have  at  least  50  days'  full  rations  and  I 
think  90,  so  the  breaking  of  the  railroad  cannot  affect  us. 
Six  p.  m. — We  took  all  kinds  of  roundabout  roads  to-day, 


306  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

and  marched  eight  miles  to  make  not  over  four.  I  have 
been  really  sick  all  day,  but  hope  it  will  be  over  by  morning. 
The  Johnnies  have  left  Big  Shanty,  moving  north  on  the 
railroad,  tearing  it  up  as  they  travel.  Go  it,  Rebels ! 

October  6,  1864,  12  m. 

Rained  all  last  night,  and  has  just  suspended  for  a  few 
minutes,  I  expect.  Kept  dry,  thanks  to  our  rubber  blan- 
kets. Drew  five  days'  rations  this  morning,  full  of  every- 
thing except  beans ;  plenty  of  beef,  though.  We  only  drew 
one-quarter  of  a  pound  per  man  for  the  whole  five  days. 
Part  of  our  railroad  bridge  across  the  Chattahoochie 
washed  away  a  few  days  ago.  It  will  be  finished  again  to- 
day. There  was  some  fighting  up  near  Allatoona  Pass  yes- 
terday, in  which,  rumor  says,  our  folks  were  worsted.  The 
Rebels  are  moving  up  the  road  in  that  direction.  They 
will  have  to  leave  there  or  wait  and  fight  us.  I  hear  that  Kil- 
patrick  burned  200  or  300  of  their  wagons  yesterday.  We'll 
warm  those  fellows  if  they  will  only  wait  for  us  somewhere. 
We  are  under  orders  to  start  at  a  moment's  notice.  Mud 
is  not  over  a  foot  deep  and  everything  else  is  lovely  in 
proportion.  I  was  confoundedly  sick  all  day  yesterday, 
could  not  eat  any  supper,  but  about  9  p.  m.  the  boys 
brought  some  beans  about  half  cooked,  and  the  notion 
taking  me  I  ate  a  couple  of  quarts  thereof.  Have  felt  splen- 
didly ever  since.  Our  pickets  that  we  left  at  Eastpoint 
have  just  got  in.  The  division  field  officer  of  the  day 
who  had  charge  of  them  misunderstood  his  instructions 
and  marched  to  the  river  at  Sandtown,  15  miles  below 
where  we  crossed.  The  Rebels  fired  into  them  and  I 
suppose  captured  half  a  dozen  stragglers. 

October  7,  1864. 

The  Rebels  have  left  the  railroad  after  being  whipped 
by  General  Corse  at  Allatoona  Pass.  The  I4th  Corps 
drove  them  out  to  Lost  Mountain  yesterday.  No  hard 
fighting.  They  tore  up  not  more  than  eight  miles  of  rail- 
road, which  will  be  rebuilt  in  a  very  few  days. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.         *  307 

Deserters  report  the  whole  Rebel  Army  here,  but  that  the 
ten  days'  rations  they  started  with  have  run  out.  Other  de- 
serters say  that  their  army  has  started  for  Nashville,  Hunts- 
ville,  or  hell;  that  they  are  satisfied  they  can't  make  either  of 
the  first  named  places,  and  would  rather  go  to  Sherman  than 
the  last  named.  It  is  wonderful  what  confidence  this  army  has 
in  Sherman.  Every  man  seems  to  .  think  the  idea  of  these 
Rebels  being  able  to  do  us  any  permanent  harm  is  perfectly 
preposterous,  and  all  are  in  the  best  of  spirits.  I  can't  help 
thinking  that  the  Rebels  must  have  all  cleared  out  of  this 
vicinity,  or  else  we'd  be  going  for  them.  Our  stock  is  in  too 
bad  condition  to  follow  them  far  over  the,  at  present,  horrible 
roads.  A  man  rode  along  on  a  poor  old  bone-rack  of  a  horse 
a  while  ago.  Some  wag  commenced,  "caw,"  "caw,"  "caw." 
The  whole  camp  took  it  up  and  for  five  minutes  you  would  have 
thought  that  10,000  crows  were  holding  a  jubilee.  Let  some 
one  start  a  squirrel  or  rabbit  and  500  men  will  be  after  it  in 
a  minute.  Old  soldiers  are  just  a  lot  of  men  with  school-boy 
spirits. 

Officers  don't  draw  meat  like  the  men.  I  have  just  had 
two  meals  of  beef  (and  no  other  meat)  in  the  last  ten  days. 
All  our  officers  are  the  same  way.  It  is  mostly  our  own  fault. 

On  picket  four  miles  south  of  Marietta,  October  8th. 
We  occupy  the  old  Johnny  skirmish  pits.  It  was  outrage- 
ously cold  last  night.  I  elected  myself  fireman  and  did  not 
neglect  my  duties.  I  have  men  from  every  regiment  in  the 
brigade  (seven).  There  are  an  abundance  of  chestnuts  here, 
and  at  every  post  the  boys  have  worked  pretty  steadily  all  day 
roasting  and  eating.  All  sit  on  their  knapsacks  before  the  fire, 
every  fellow  with  a  stick  to  take  out  the  nuts.  It  is  right  in- 
teresting to  hear  the  men  talk.  Nearly  all  have  been  in  the 
service  three  years  or  over,  and  almost  every  battlefield  in  the 
West  has  been  seen  by  some  of  the  brigade.  We  move.  The 
Rebels  have  crossed  the  Etawah. 


308  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Two  miles  north  of  Kenesaw  Mountain, 

October  9,  1864. 

About  5  o'clock  last  night,  just  when  we  should  have  been 
relieved,  we  heard  the  "General"  sounded  through  the  camp, 
and  in  half  an  hour  more  the  "Assembly."  The  corps  started 
toward  Marietta,  and  in  another  half  hour  we  assembled,  and 
in  charge  of  the  division  officer  of  the  day  followed  as  rear 
guard  of  the  train. 

At  12  p.  m.,  after  a  cold,  tiresome  march,  the  train  corraled, 
and  we  built  fires  and  turned  in  beside  them  for  the  balance 
of  the  night,  right  at  the  northeast  base  of  Kenesaw  Mountain. 
This  a.  m.  found  the  brigade  two  miles  further  north.  The 
Rebel  Army  was  here  three  days  ago  and  tore  up  the  railroad 
all  along  here.  They  are  now  near  Van  Wirt.  If  they  go 
north  across  the  Etawah,  we  will  probably  follow.  Their  pres- 
ent position  menances  the  whole  line  of  road  from  Rome  to 
the  Chattahoochie  crossing. 

Near  Kenesaw  Mountain,  October  10,  1864. 

Was  on  the  ground  we  charged  on  the  2/th  of  June,  and 
also  on  top  of  Kenesaw  to-day.  Very  fine  view,  but  nothing 
like  equal  to  that  from  Lookout.  The  signal  station  here  com- 
municates direct  with  Atlanta,  Allatoona  and  Roswell. 

I  picked  up  some  black  oak  acorns  to-day  from  a  tree  that 
shades  the  graves  of  12  or  15  of  our  soldiers,  mostly  from  our 
regiment,  who  fell  on  the  27th.  They  were  buried  where  they 
fell.  That  charge  was  the  maddest  folly  of  the  campaign. 

Allatoona  Pass,  October  11,  1864. 

Our  corps  moved  at  the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  continued 
moving  until  we  were  all  confoundedly  tired.  I  never  saw  the 
men  so  noisy,  funny,  or  in  any  way  or  every  way  feeling  half 
so  good.  After  we  had  marched  about  eight  miles,  one  of 
Howard's  staff  came  back  along  the  line  and  informed  us  that 
Sherman  had  just  notified  Howard  that  Richmond  is  ours. 
Everybody  believed  it,  but  nobody  cheered.  They  were  saving 
the  yells  for  the  confirmation.  We  camped  at  I  a.  m.  with  or- 
ders for  reveille  at  4  and  march  at  5  a.  m. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  309 

Three  miles  south  of  Kingston,  October  12,  1864. 

Started  at  daylight  this  morning.  The  Rebels  were  then 
at  Rome.  Stopped  here  at  5  p.  m.  It  is  understood  that  the 
Rebel  Army  has  moved  southwest  into  Alabama. 

Passed  through  the  best  country  to-day  that  we  have  seen 
in  Georgia.  We  are  camped  on  what  has  been  a  splendid 
plantation  (equal  to  anything  on  Copperas  creek),  and  on  the 
only  clover  field,  I  think,  in  Georgia.  This  is  about  the  only 
ground  on  which  I  have  seen  the  Jamestown  weed,  plantain, 
or  clover.  We  are  very  scare  of  forage,  and  the  officers  turned 
their  horses  out  on  the  clover  to  graze.  The  Northern  stock 
enjoyed  it  exceedingly,  but  the  Southern  horses  did  not  know 
enough  to  eat  it.  They  nosed  around  among  the  rich  bundles 
of  clover  to  pick  out  the  weeds  and  hard  wild  grass,  the  latter 
not  near  as  good  as  our  poorest  prairie  grass. 

Three  miles  from  Rome,  Ga.,  October  13,  1864. 
Started  at  8  this  morning  and  landed  here  at  dark.  Heard 
40  or  50  cannon  shots  in  vicinity  of  Rome  during  the  day's 
march.  The  country  to-day  is  fair  for  Georgia,  but  not  equal 
to  that  between  Cartersville  and  Kingston.  While  we  were  rest- 
ing to-day,  Osterhaus  (at  present  commanding  our  corps)  rode 
by  our  regiment  and  a  few  scamps  hollowed  "sowbelly,  sow- 
belly.'' You  know  the  men  have  been  living  on  army  beef  for 
a  month,  and  it  is  not  desirable  fare ;  still  they  were  only  in 
fun,  and  I  noticed  the  general  smile,  but  some  puppy  finally 
cried  out  "kraut,"  and  another  echoed  it  with  "kraut  by  the 
barrel."  The  general  wheeled  his  horse  and  rode  up  to  us,  his 
face  white  with  passion.  "Vat  regiment  ish  dis  ?"  No  one  an- 
swered. He  rode  up  near  me  and  again  asked,  "Vat  regiment 
ish  dis?"  I  told  him.  "Vy  don't  you  kit  up?"  I  arose  and 
again  answered  him  respectfully,  "The  io3d  Illinois,  sir." 
"Vare  ish  your  colonel  ?"  "At  the  right  of  the  regiment,  sir." 
He  rode  up  to  Wright  and  gave  him  the  devil.  I  have  not  been 
so  mortified  for  a  long  time.  We  all  think  a  great  deal  of 
Osterhaus,  and  just  coming  into  his  division  were  all  desirous 
that  his  first  impressions  of  our  regiment  should  be  favorable. 


310  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

As  it  is,  two  or  three  insulting  puppies  have  given  us  a  name 
with  him  that  I  have  no  doubt  will  cause  us  trouble  for  a  long 
time.  Yelping  "sauer  kraut"  at  a  German  is  a  poor  way  to 
gain  his  favor. 

(A  duplicate  of  dates.)  October  12,  1864. 
Last  night  while  our  train  was  passing  through  Cass- 
ville,  a  town  four  miles  south  of  Kingston,  an  ambulance 
gave  out  and  the  driver  unhitched  and  concluded  to  stay 
all  night.  That  was  some  three  miles  from  where  we 
stayed.  Nine  stragglers  also  laid  down  beside  the  ambu- 
lance for  the  night.  The  i/th  Corps  came  through  there 
to-day  and  found  the  driver  dead,  with  a  bayonet  thrust 
through  him,  and  the  traps  of  the  nine  men  laying  around. 
The  horses  and  nine  men  are  missing.  I  heard  to-night 
that  the  bodies  of  the  nine  men  had  been  found  altogether. 
Our  men  burned  the  town.  I  expect  we  will  lie  here  to- 
morrow, and  if  Hood's  army  is  in  this  vicinity  go  for  it 
next  day.  Nobody  thinks  he  will  dare  to  fight  us.  We 
have  parts  of  five  corps  here. 

(Duplicated  also.)    October  13,  1864. 

The  men  drew  full  rations  of  bacon  to-day.  There  has 
been  some  fighting  nine  miles  down  the  north  side  of  the 
Coosa  river  to-day.  Our  corps  moves  back  on  the  Kings- 
ton road  at  "retreat."  Don't  know  where  to. 

Received  two  letters  from  you  to-day,  also  papers,  for 
which  am  very  thankful.  Have  had  a  good  rest  to-day. 
Everybody  is  in  glorious  spirits.  Kilpatrick  started  west  to- 
day with  50  days'  rations  of  salt.  I  wish  I  was  with  him. 

Three  miles  southwest  of  Adairsville,  October  I4th. 
We  marched  at  sunset  last  evening  and  halted  not  until 
3  this  a.  m.  Marched  miserably  slow  the  first  five  miles 
through  a  deep  gorge,  but  about  I  o'clock  got  straightened 
out  on  the  Rome  and  Calhoun  road,  a  good  one,  and  then 
got  along  nicely.  In  the  fighting  at  Rome  yesterday,  our 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  31 1 

folks  whipped  them  and  took  some  artillery.  We  got  to 
bed  at  3:15,  and  reveille  sounded  at  5  and  we  marched  at 
6:30.  Not  much  sleep  after  marching  20  miles,  was  it. 
We  had  no  crackers  this  morning,  and  before  I  got  up  my 
imagination  was  reveling  in  the  prospect  of  a  breakfast  on 
parched  corn,  but  at  the  festive  board  the  cook  surprised 
us  with  a  mess  of  pancakes.  They  looked  like  plates  cut 
out  of  a  rubber  blanket,  and  tasted  accordingly.  One  mem- 
ber of  the  mess  said  they  just  came  up  to  his  ideal  of  a 
poet's  dream.  Another,  that  they  only  lacked  one  thing, 
and  that  was  the  stamp,  "Goodyear's  Patent."  The  Sur- 
geon advised  us  to  use  them  sparingly,  for,  said  he,  "If 
they  mass  against  any  part  of  your  interior  lines  the  con- 
sequences will  be  dire."  But  we  were  hard  up  for  bread- 
stuffs,  and  closed  with  the  dreadful  stuff  manfully.  Twelve 
m. — Have  stopped  for  dinner. 

The  Rebel  army  was,  or  part  of  it,  at  Resaca  yesterday, 
about  nine  miles  from  here. 

Calhoun,  Ga.,  October  15,  1864. 

Stayed  here  last  night.  Reveille  at  3  a.  m.,  but  our  bri- 
gade brings  up  the  rear  of  the  corps  to-day,  and  we  won't 
get  off  until  after  daylight. 

Resaca,  October  15,  1864,  10  a.  m. 

We  are  waiting  here  for  rations.  The  4th  and  I4th 
Corps  are  ahead,  and  for  the  last  half  hour  we  have  heard 
very  heavy  skirmishing  toward  "Snake  Creek  Gap,"  just 
about  where  we  heard  the  first  fighting  of  the  campaign, 
a  little  over  five  months  ago.  There  is  enough  to  interest 
me  in  the  prospect  for  the  next  three  days.  Snake  Creek 
Gap,  10  p.  m.  We  have  the  whole  gap. 

North  end  Snake  Creek  Gap,  October  16,  1864. 
After  a  tedious  march  got  here  at  n  p.  m.    The  Rebels 
about    six   hours   ahead   of   us   had   blockaded   the    road   in 
good  style.     They  did  some  half  a  day's  work,  with  hun- 
dreds of  men,  and  delayed  us  about — ten  minutes. 


312  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

-  On  summit  of  Taylor's  Ridge,  Shipp's  Gap,  p.  m. 
Our  division  has  the  advance  to-day.  The  Rebels  drove 
very  well,  until  we  got  here,  when,  having  a  very  good 
position,  they  resisted  us  with  some  vim.  A  few  men  of 
the  1st  brigade,  finally  climbed  the  hill,  flanked  and  routed 
them.  Our  loss,  seven  wounded.  We  got  35  prisoners  and 
killed  and  wounded  a  dozen  or  so. 

October  17,  1864. 

I  incline  to  think  that  the  raid  and  pursuit  are  both  over, 
though  we  wish  that  Sherman  would  follow  them  until  they 
get  the  punishment  they  deserve  for  their  impudence.  They 
tore  up  some  20  miles  of  railroad,  killed  and  wounded  not 
over  750  for  us,  and  captured  about  1,100.  Their  loss  in 
wounded  and  killed,  whom  we  have  buried,  is  1,900;  pris- 
oners, that  I  know  of,  600;  besides  a  lot  of  deserters  who 
have  come  in.  Eight  hundred  of  the  prisoners  captured 
by  them  were  negroes,  who  could  not  have  been  taken 
but  for  the  cowardice  of  their  Colonel,  Johnson. 

The  tearing  up  of  the  railroad  amounts  to  nothing.  We 
have  not  had  our  rations  cut  down  an  ounce  in  anything. 

The  man  that  run  that  raid  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  him- 
self, and  I'll  venture  he  is. 

In  Snake  Creek  Gap,  but  for  General  Stanley's  laziness, 
we  would  have  got  enough  prisoners  to  make  Hood  howl. 
He  rested  his  corps  three  hours,  just  as  he  did  when  en- 
trusted with  a  critical  piece  of  work  at  Jonesboro. 

We  have  been  having  a  gay  time  this  morning.  It  is 
cold  enough  to  make  us  sit  close  to  the  fire,  and  the  ne- 
groes keep  us  in  chestnuts. 

La  Fayette,  October  18,  1864. 

Our  brigade  was  marching  through  Cane  Creek  Valley  yes- 
terday until  4  p.  m.,  when  we  struck  out  for  this  place  five 
miles,  which  we  made  in  one  and  one-half  hours.  Nice  little 
town  almost  surrounded  with  half-mountains.  There  has  been 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  313 

a  pair  of  cavalry  fights  here,  the  fruits  whereof  can  be  seen  in 
an  addition  to  the  cemetery,  near  which  we  are  bivouacked, 
some  25  Rebel  graves,  and  half  as  many  Yankees.  Divers  fair 
creatures  can  be  seen  here,  chiefly  Rebels;  I  have  thought 
though,  to-day,  much  Union.  We  are  now  bound  for  Rome. 

Near  Summerville,  October  19,  1864. 

Reached  this  place  yesterday.  The  cavalry  advance  had 
some  sharp  skirmishing,  and  brought  back  some  two  or  three 
prisoners.  We  are  drawing  full  rations,  besides  preying  off 
the  country,  all  kinds  of  meat,  apples,  potatoes,  and  I  believe 
the  men  find  a  little  of  everything  known  to  be  eatable.  En- 
tering houses  is  prohibited  under  penalty  of  death,  but  some 
scoundrels  manage  to  pillage  many  houses.  Foraging  is  also 
half  prohibited,  but  I  am  satisfied  that  our  general  officers  do 
not  object  to  our  taking  meat,  etc.,  if  houses  are  not  entered. 
Ten  p.  m. — Have  stopped  here  to  draw  rations.  The  23d 
and  4th  Corps  have  already  moved  forward  on  the  old  Ala- 
bama road.  That  looks  as  though  we  were  intending  to  follow 
the  Rebels.  We  "liners"  have  no  idea  where  they  are.  One 
rumor  is  that  they  are  moving  northwest,  intending  to  cross 
the  Tennessee  river,  south  or  southwest  of  Huntsville.  An- 
other that  they  are  moving  to  their  new  base  at  or  near  Blue 
Mountain,  on  the  road  from  here  to  Talladega,  Ala.  If  we  are 
going  to  follow  them,  I  look  for  a  long  campaign.  But  for 
one  thing,  we  would  rather  go  into  a  campaign  immediately 
than  into  camp.  That  is,  the  men  have  not  been  paid  off  for 
ten  months,  and  many  families  are  undoubtedly  suffering  in 
consequence.  Our  money  is  waiting  for  us,  and  we  will  get 
it  whenever  the  Johnnies  will  let  us  stop  long  enough  for  the 
paymasters  to  catch  up.  Don't  you  people  ever  think  of 
us  as  being  without  rations.  We  sometimes  wish  the  Rebels 
would  cut  our  communications  entirely,  so  that  we  could  live 
wholly  off  the  country.  The  Rebels  only  take  corn  and  meat, 
and  we  fatten  on  what  they  are  not  allowed  to  touch. 


314  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Alpine,  Chatuga  Valley,  October  20,  1864. 

Got  here  at  dark  last  night,  eight  miles  from  Summerville. 
We  seemed  to  be  headed  southwest.  I  have  the  sorest  feet  I 
have  enjoyed  for  two  years.  Do  you  notice  how  accurately  I 
miss  it  in  every  prediction  I  venture?  I  am  a  fair  sample  of 
the  ignorance  "Pap"  keeps  this  army  of  his  movements.  He 
has  shown  his  ability  to  keep  us  from  divining  his  purposes, 
but  he  or  any  other  general  cannot  keep  us  from  guessing. 
Fine  country  here,  for  Georgia.  An  officer  and  20  men  are  de- 
tailed daily  for  foragers. 

They  start  ahead  in  the  morning,  and  shoot  hogs,  sheep, 
gather  sweet  potatoes,  apples,  etc.,  and  bring  all  out  to  the 
roadside.  The  hogs  and  sheep  are  cut  into  pieces  of  about 
20  or  25  pounds.  When  the  regiment  comes  along  every  man 
makes  a  grab  as  he  passes  at  the  pile,  throws  his  chunk  over 
his  shoulder,  and  all  without  breaking  ranks.  You  can  im- 
agine the  appearance  a  battalion  would  make  at  nightfall. 

Gaylesville,  Ala.,  October  21,  1864. 

Marched  about  18  miles  yesterday  down  a  very  fine  valley, 
between  Lookout  Mountain  and  Taylor's  Ridge,  crossed  the 
latter  after  dark  through  a  pass  that  beat  all  for  blackness  and 
stones,  to  tumble  over,  that  I  ever  saw.  Got  a  very  large 
mail  yesterday,  but  only  one  letter  from  you.  We  move  again 
this  morning,  but  don't  know  when.  Can  send  a  letter  back 
from  here,  first  chance  we  have  had  this  month.  I  guess  we 
have  halted  here  to  wait  the  building  of  a  bridge  over  the 
Coosa.  The  Rebels  burned  it  yesterday. 

What  we  are  going  for  nobody  knows.  I  saw  Sherman 
yesterday  as  we  passed  through  Gaylesville.  He  was  talking 
with  Jeff.  C.  Davis.  He  always  has  a  cigar  hanging  from  the 
corner  of  his  mouth.  It  is  always  about  half-gone,  but  I  never 
saw  it  lighted.  He  is  certainly  the  most  peculiar-looking  man 
I  ever  saw.  At  one  house  we  passed  this  morning  we  saw 
three  of  the  ugliest-looking  women  imaginable.  They  sat  on 
the  porch  step,  side  by  side,  hoopless,  unkempt  and  unwashed. 
I'll  swear  that  man  never  before  witnessed  three  such  frights 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  315 

together.  All  three  were  singing  a  Rebel  song.  I  knew  they 
were  trying  to  sing,  but  although  close  to  them,  could  not 
distinguish  a  word.  Some  of  the  men  recognized  the  tune 
as  belonging  to  a  tune  called  the  '-'Rebel  Soldier."  The  men 
were  so  completely  surprised  and  thunderstruck  by  the  show 
that  they  had  not  a  word  to  say.  It  tickles  us  to  see  that 
you  home  folks  are  uneasy  about  us  because  Hood  has  got 
into  our  rear.  I  tell  you  that  I  have  not  seen  a  man  uneasy 
for  a  minute,  on  that  subject,  and  that  Hood  has  to  run  like 
a  hound  to  get  away  from  us.  If  Hood's  army  was  to-day, 
twice  as  strong  as  it  is,  we  would  be  too  many  for  him. 

October  22,  1864. 

I  was  foraging  to-day  for  the  regiment  with  about  20  men. 
Got  plenty  of  hogs  and  potatoes.  Sweet  potatoes  are  about 
the  size  of  ordinary  pumpkins  and  most  delicious. 

October  23,  1864. 

A  day  of  rest  and  washing.  The  cavalry  was  out  some  dozen 
miles  southwest,  and  report  the  enemy  intrenched  and  in  force. 

Eight  miles  southeast  of  last  night's  camp, 

October  24,  1864. 

With  five  brigades  of  our  corps  started  at  3  130  p.  m.  to  look 
after  Rebels  reported.  Came  through  a  little  hamlet  called 
Blue  Pond  from  a  little  lake  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  dirty 
mud  color.  Plenty  of  milk  and  honey. 

Nine  miles  northwest  of  Gadsden,  Ala., 

October  25,  1864. 

Found  the  Rebels  about  noon  to-day  in  position  behind  a 
rail  work,  running  across  from  Lookout  Mountain  to  Coosa 
river.  It  was  only  Wheeler's  cavalry,  and  we  blew  them  out 
easily.  We  formed  to  charge  them,  but  they  wouldn't  wait. 
We  followed  until  we  were  satisfied  there  was  no  infantry  be- 


3l6  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

hind  them,  and  then  settled  for  the  night,  and  sent  out  foragers. 
There  was  some  miserable  artillery  firing  by  both  sides.  Not 
a  dozen  men  were  hurt;  only  one  in  our  brigade,  looth  Indi- 
ana. 

At  Little  River  again,  October  26,  1864. 
Got  back  on  the  25th,  and  have  been  laying  quiet.     Our 
foragers  have  been  skirmishing  a  good  deal  with  the  enemies' 
scouts,  but  few  casualties  however. 

Cedar  Bluff,  Ala.,  October  27,  1864. 

Waiting  here  for  the  I7th  Army  Corps  to  get  across  the 
Coosa.  It  is  a  beautiful  little  river,  not  as  wide  as  the  Illinois, 
but  has  a  deeper  channel.  We  are  starting  on  the  road  to 
Talladega;  don't  even  know  whether  we  are  starting  on  a 
campaign  or  not.  Hood  is  reported  across  the  Tennessee.  We 
understand  that  Sherman  has  men  enough  to  attend  to  him,  and 
that  Sherman  intends  to  use  us  to  Christianize  this  country. 
Many  think  we  are  now  on  the  way  to  Montgomery  or  Selma. 
River  here  about  120  yards  wide.  About  a  thousand  head  of 
our  cattle  swam  across,  some  of  them  swam  over  and  back  two 
or  three  times,  and  many  of  the  thin  ones  drowned,  for  which 
we  were  grateful  to  the  drovers  as  it  saved  us  some  very  hard 
chewing. 

Camp  in  piney  woods,  five  miles  South  of  Cedar  Bluffs, 

October  29,  1864. 

Such  a  march  over  pine  ridges  and  through  swamps ; 
Egyptian  darkness  would  take  a  back  seat  in  comparison  with 
this  night.  It  just  happened  to  strike  the  men  as  funny,  and 
they  kept  up  a  roar  of  cheering  the  whole  distance. 

Near  Cave  Springs,  Ga.,  26  miles  south  of  Rome, 

October  31,  1864,  i  a.  m. 

We  think  we  are  going  to  Rome.  Had  an  extremely  dis- 
agreeable march  yesterday  of  only  12  miles,  over  pine  and 
scrub  oak  ridges.  A  swamp  in  every  valley.  Camped  before 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  317 

dark  for  almost  the  first  time  of  the  trip.  This  is  the  27th 
day  since  we  broke  camp  at  Eastpoint.  Everybody  is  all  right. 
Compliments  to  Colonel  Wright,  if  he  is  at  home,  and  tell 
him  immense  rumors  are  afloat  of  a  Montgomery  campaign. 
Had  an  immense  supper  of  fresh  pork  and  sweet  potatoes. 

Cedar  Town,  Ga.,  November  i,  1864. 

Abomination  of  abominations,  train  guard  to-day.  It  is  the 
most  disagreeable  duty  we  are  subject  to  on  the  march.  I 
escaped  the  afternoon  duty  by  being  sent  out  foraging.  Got 
all  the  men  would  carry,  and  disgusted  a  rich  citizen  consid- 
erably, also  saw  a  nice,  rosy-faced  girl,  whose  teeth  and  fiinger- 
nails  would  spoil  a  meal  for  any  one  of  ordinary  constitution. 
One  man  in  our  brigade  wounded,  4oth  Illinois,  in  a  little 
skirmish  to-day. 

Van  Wirt,  Ga.,  November  2,  1864. 

It  has  rained  steadily  all  day.  Moved  12  miles.  I  have  an 
excellent  pair  of  shoes.  A  good  deal  of  water  got  into  them 
to-day,  but  it  all  ran  out.  Camp  to-night  on  a  high  pine  ridge. 
Pine  knot  fires  come  in  first  rate.  That  4Oth  boy  that  was 
wounded  last  night  was  captured  with  three  more  of  our  men 
by  30  Rebels  and  taken  eight  or  ten  miles,  then  formed  in  line 
and  ordered  to  about  face  and  fired  upon ;  two  fell  dead  and  the 
other  two  ran  away. 

Five  miles  northwest  of  Villa  Rica,  Ga., 

Novembebr  3,  1864,  6  p.  m. 

Forty-eight  hours'  rain  without  a  stop  and  a  good  prospect 
for  as  much  more.  We  left  Van  Wirt  and  Dallas  to  the  left, 
and  by  1 6  miles  hard  marching  have  got  near  enough  over 
this  barren  ridge,  I  think,  to  find  a  few  marks  of  civilization. 
Rumor  says  we  are  going  to  Atlanta  to  relieve  the  2Oth  Corps, 
and  will  then  be  paid.  Passed  to-day  a  one-horse  wagon,  a 
large  ox  in  the  shafts  and  four  women  in  the  wagon  dressed 
for  a  party. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 


.»<*  . 

.^ 


Powder  Springs,  November  4,  1864,  6  p.  m. 
Cold  rain  to-day.  Made  15  miles.  Country  only  fit  for  (?) 
Come  through  a  long  line  of  fine  works  the  Rebels  put  up 
.after  they  took  up  our  railroad  at  Acworth.  This  about  the 
last  day  of  pork  and  potatoes;  to-morrow  will  bring  us  to  a 
country  we  have  worn  out. 

Vinings  Station,  November  5,  1864. 

Our  brigade  rear  guard  all  day.  Foragers  could  not  find  a 
thing.  Traveled  through  a  perfect  labyrinth  of  breastworks. 
Rebel  or  Yankee  grave  every  100  yards.  One  month  ago 
we  passed  here  confident  of  overtaking  Hood,  but  he  was  too 
swift  for  us,  and  after  300  miles  travel  we  are  back  at  the 
•starting  point.  Altogether  it  has  been  the  most  pleasant  cam- 
paign of  my  soldiering.  The  officers  of  the  regiment  have  all 
messed  together,  and  we  have  had  all  the  good  living  and  fun 
we  wanted.  I  was  under  the  civilizing  influence  of  a  white 
woman's  society  to-day  for  five  minutes,  and  in  consequence 
feel  duly  amiable. 

November  6,  1864. 

Rain  all  day.  We  are  preparing  for  a  Ivuge  campaign,  and 
are  all  right  glad  of  it;  50  days'  rations  is  the  word.  Don't 
know  when  we  start.  Montgomery  or  Augusta  are  probably 
the  points.  We  are  going  to  shake  up  the  bones  of  the  re- 
bellion. I  would  not  miss  this  campaign  for  anything. 

November  12,  1864. 

The  Rubicon  is  passed,  the  die  is  cast,  and  all  that  sort  of 
thing.  We  to-day  severed  our  own  cracker  line.  At  n  a.  m. 
ours  and  the  i/th  Corps  were  let  loose  on  the  railroad,  the 
men  worked  with  a  will  and  before  dark  the  12  miles  of  track 
between  here  and  Marietta  were  destroyed.  The  ties  were 
piled  and  burned  and  the  rails,  after  being  heated  red  hot  in 
the  middle  were  looped  around  trees  or  telegraph  poles.  Old 
•destruction  himself  could  not  have  done  the  work  better.  The 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  319 

way  the  Rebels  destroyed  our  road  on  their  raid  was  nrt  even 
a  fair  parody  on  our  style.  The  2Oth  Corps  is  at  it  between 
Atlanta  and  the  river,  and  the  I4th  and  23d  north  of  Marietta. 
We  have  orders  to-night  to  move  at  7  a.  m. 

White  Hall,  two  miles  west  of  Atlanta, 

November  13,  1864. 

We  made  15  miles  to-day  very  easily.  Coming  through 
Atlanta  the  smoke  almost  blinded  us.  I  believe  everything  of 
any  importance  there  is  on  fire.  Understand  that  all  the  large 
buildings  are  to  be  burned.  Tremendous  smoke  also  rising 
over  the  site  of  Marietta.  It  is  said  that  we  will  lie  here  two 
or  three  days.  We  are  only  one-half  mile  from  where  we  did 
our  hard  fighting  "before  Atlanta." 

November  14,  1864. 

Troops  are  coming  in  to-day  on  all  the  roads.  'Tis  said 
that  we  will  be  ready  to  move  to-morrow.  So  be  it.  The 
cracker  line  is  cut  now  and  we  don't  want  to  lie  still  eating 
up  our  precious  rations.  I  was  again  over  the  old  position  we 
occupied  before  Atlanta.  I  would  like  to  be  your  guide  over 
that  ground  some  day.  Tremendous  fires  in  Atlanta  to-day. 

Near  Jonesboro,  November  15,  1864. 

The  grand  expeditionary  force  has  commenced  moving.  Our 
regiment  has  the  honor  of  leading  our  corps  in  the  first  day's 
march.  Made  about  18  miles  to-day,  the  first  ten  of  which 
the  two  or  three  companies  of  cavalry  who  led  us  had  quite 
lively  skirmishing. 

At  one  point  the  Rebels  took  advantage  of  an  old  line  of 
works  and  made  quite  a  stubborn  resistance,  but  our  regiment, 
though  we  were  deployed  and  advanced  as  skirmishers,  did  not 
get  a  shot  the  whole  day.  Just  as  we  turned  off  the  road  to 
bivouac  the  Rebels  opened  a  piece  of  artillery  on  us,  but  fired 
only  a  few  shots  and  hurt  no  one.  Item :  Saw  a  lovely  girl  to- 


320 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 


day.  Item:  Had  on  the  Union  to-day.  Item:  Had  my  first 
drink  of  milk  since  the  26th  of  December,  '63.  Item:  Have 
an  oppossum  which  "Rueben"  is  to  cook  for  my  breakfast. 
Heavy  cannonading  west  of  us. 

McDonough,  November  16,  1864,  n  p.  m. 
Made  14  miles  to-day  through  a  really  fine  country.  Only 
saw  one  house  though,  that  looked  like  living.  Forage  is  no 
name  for  the  good  things  our  foragers  find  here.  I  notify  you 
that  I  had  eggs  for  supper.  There  was  some  lively  cannonad- 
ing toward  Love  joy  this  morning,  but  it  has  been  quiet  ever 
since.  Think  the  "Militia"  has  discovered  that  this  party 
"sizes  their  pile,"  and  have  "fled  to  the  mountain."  Our  whole 
corps  are  on  the  road  to-day.  The  advance  got  into  camp 
five  miles  ahead,  at  noon.  We  got  here  one  hour  ago,  and  our 
division  camps  six  miles  back.  The  roads  are  excellent  and  we 
travel  right  along.  We  all  voted  this  morning  that  opossum 
meat  was  good  enough  for  white  folks.  I  liked  it  very  much. 


Near  Jackson,  Ga.,  November  17,  1864,  12  a.  m. 
Have  just  had  our  coffee.  Marched  some  17  miles  to-day. 
Begin  to  see  where  the  "rich  planters"  come  in.  This  is  prob- 
ably the  most  gigantic  pleasure  excursion  ever  planned.  It 
already  beats  everything  I  ever  saw  soldiering,  and  promises 
to  prove  much  richer  yet.  I  wish  Sherman  would  burn  the 
commissary  trains,  we  have  no  use  for  what  they  carry,  and 
the  train  only  bothers  us.  It  is  most  ludicrous  to  see  the  ac- 
tions of  the  negro  women  as  we  pass.  They  seem  to  be  half 
crazy  with  joy,  and  when  a  band  strikes  up  they  go  stark 
mad.  Our  men  are  clear  discouraged  with  foraging,  they 
can't  carry  half  the  hogs  and  potatoes  they  find  right  along 
the  road.  The  men  detailed  for  that  purpose  are  finding  lots 
of  horses  and  mules.  The  6th  Iowa  are  plumb  crazy  on  the 
horse  question. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  32! 

Springs,  40  miles  from  Macon, 

November  18,  1864. 

We  got  here  at  noon  but  will  wait  until  to-morrow,  I  under- 
stand, for  the  3d  and  4th  Divisions  to  lay  a  pontoon  bridge 
across  the  Ocmulgee  river.  This  has  been  a  summer  resort  of 
some  note.  From  800  to  1,000  people  congregate  here.  The 
spring  is  a  little  stream  of  water  not  larger  than  your  finger, 
which  runs  from  the  rock  at  the  rate  of  a  gallon  a  minute.  It 
is  sulphur  water  with  some  other  ingredient  that  gives  it  a 
very  disagreeable  ordor.  This  is  quite  a  romantic  place.  For- 
aged some  peach  brandy,  which  was  destroyed. 

Near  Hillsboro,  November  19,  1864. 

Have  been  foraging  to-day.  Crossed  the  Ocmulgee  at  Oc- 
mulgee Mills,  on  pontoons.  This  river  is  much  like  the  Chat- 
tahoochie,  but  not  so  broad.  I  am  lost  from  the  division  to- 
night and  camped  near  the  2d  Division.  By  the  kindness  of 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Celia  Pye,  I  occupy  a  feather  bed  to-night.  It 
is  the  first  house  I  have  been  in  for  the  last  three  months. 
She  understood  from  the  Rebels  that  we  burned  all  houses  and 
she  took  all  her  things  out  and  hid  them  in  the  woods.  The 
foragers  found  them  and  brought  them  in  to  her.  Had  an 
excellent  supper  with  the  boys.  This  is  a  level,  fine  country, 
and  has  been  well  cultivated. 

Near  Clinton,  November  20,  1864. 

Struck  out  foraging  before  daylight  this  morning.  Al- 
most any  house  on  the  road  to-day  would  furnish  pork  and 
potatoes  enough  for  a  brigade.  I  got  to  the  regiment 
about  8  p.  m.  last  night.  They  say  our  brigade  marched 
until  3  a.  m.,  and  the  reveille  sounded  before  the  men  got 
through  supper.  We  passed  over  the  scene  of  Stoneman's 
fighting  and  surrender  last  August.  Some  of  our  men 
found  two  of  our  dead  soldiers  unburied,  which  don't  speak 
well  for  the  Rebels,  and  is  charged  against  them.  I  think 
there  is  less  pillaging  this  trip  than  I  ever  saw  before. 


322  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Near  Macon,  Ga.,  November  21,  1864. 

This  makes  seven  days  from  Atlanta,  114  miles  by  the 
roads  we  have  marched.  I  think  that  time  for  an  army  like 
ours,  over  bad  roads,  too,  for  at  least  four  days,  is  unprece- 
dented. 

Our  cavalry  had  a  little  skirmish  at  Macon  last  evening 
and  were  driven  back.  I  heard  some  cannonading,  but 
don't  think  it  amounted  to  much.  There  was  a  little  skir- 
mish about  the  rear  of  our  division  at  4  this  p.  m.,  but  beside 
racing  and  maybe  capturing  some  half-dozen  of  our  fora- 
gers, it  amounted  to  nothing.  Our  left  occupied  Milledge- 
ville.  Governor  Brown  is  here  at  Macon,  also  Beaure- 
gard,  and  they  have  scraped  together  some  ten  or  a  dozen 
things  to  defend  the  town  with.  I  don't  think  from  looks 
at  present,  that  "Pap"  is  going  to  try  the  town,  but  can't 
tell.  We  have  thrown  up  a  little  rail  barricade  this  even- 
ing, which  looks  as  if  we  were  intending  to  destroy  the 
Macon  and  Savannah  railroad,  on  which  rests  the  right  of 
our  brigade.  We  are  afraid  at  this  writing  that  Sheaff 
Herr  was  captured  to-day.  He  was  foraging  where  that 
little  skirmish  took  place  this  p.  m.,  and  Rebels  were  seen 
after,  and  within  75  yards  of  him.  It  has  rained  steadily 
all  day  and  for  the  last  60  hours,  but  has  turned  cold  and 
is  now  clear. 

Near  Griswoldville,  November  22,  1864. 
Has  been  a  gay  day  for  our  brigade.  The  other  two 
brigades  of  our  division  went  to  work  on  the  railroad  this 
morning,  and  we  on  a  reconnoisance  toward  Macon. 
Found  Rebel  cavalry  at  once.  My  Companies  A  and  B, 
were  thrown  out  as  skirmishers.  Forty  of  us  drove  at  least 
400  Rebel  cavalry  at  least  four  miles,  and  kept  them  a  mile 
ahead  of  the  brigade.  I  think  we  killed  and  wounded  at 
least  20  of  them.  We  finally  charged  them  out  of  a  rail 
barricade  and  thoroughly  stampeded  them.  It  was  the 
richest  thing  I  ever  saw.  We  got  highly  complimented 
on  the  way  we  drove  them.  Griswoldville  was  the  point 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  323 

we  started  for,  and  having  reached  it  we  lay  there  an  hour 
or  so,  and  were  then  ordered  back  to  the  brigade.  We 
found  it  in  line  along  an  open  field,  building  a  rail  barricade 
along  the  front.  We  had  a  nice  open  field  without  even  a 
fence  on  it,  full  600  yards  wide  in  our  front.  We  were  get- 
ting dinner,  not  dreaming  of  a  fight,  when  lively  musketry 
opened  on  the  picket  line,  and  in  a  minute  more  our  pickets 
came  in  flying.  A  fine  line  of  Johnnies  pushed  out  of  the 
woods  after  them,  and  then  started  for  us.  We  com- 
menced throwing  up  logs  in  our  front  and  did  not  fire  a 
shot  until  they  were  within  250  yards  of  us,  by  which  time 
our  works  would  protect  us  from  musketry.  We  all  felt 
that  we  had  a  sure  thing,  and  had  there  been  but  one  line 
of  Rebels,  we  would  have  let  them  come  up  close  to  us. 
But,  by  the  time  the  first  line  had  got  within  250  yards  of 
us,  three  other  lines  had  emerged  from  the  woods,  and  they 
had  run  two  batteries  out  on  the  field  further  to  our  right 
which  opened  on  us.  Our  artillery  returned  the  fire,  but  was 
silenced  almost  immediately.  We  then  let  loose  on  them 
with  our  muskets,  and  if  we  did  not  interest  them,  it  is 
queer.  One  after  another  their  lines  crumbled  to  pieces, 
and  they  .took  the  run  to  save  themselves.  There  was  a 
ravine  50  yards  in  front  of  us,  and  as  the  Rebels  did  not 
dare  to  run  back  over  that  field,  they  broke  for  the  ravine. 
It  was  awful  the  way  we  slaughtered  those  men.  Once 
in  the  ravine  most  of  them  escaped  by  following  it  up,  the 
willows  and  canes  screening  them.  We  let  a  skirmish  line 
into  the  ravine,  which  gobbled  some  50  prisoners,  a  num- 
ber of  Africans  among  them.  It  was  a  most  complete 
repulse,  and  when  the  numbers  alone  are  considered,  a 
glorious  thing  for  us.  Only  our  little  brigade  of  say  1,100 
muskets  were  engaged  on  our  side  and  no  support  was 
nearer  than  four  miles  (and  then  but  one  brigade),  while 
the  Rebels  had  four  brigades  and  two  regiments,  about 
6,000  men.  But  the  four  brigades  were  "Militia."  We 
estimate  their  loss  at  1,000,  and  I  do  not  think  it  an  over- 
estimate. Ours  is  14  killed  and  42  wounded  in  the  whole 


324  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

brigade;  four  killed  and  seven  wounded  in  the  regiment; 
two  in  my  company;  25  out  of  30  Rebel  bullets  went  20 
feet  over  our  heads.  Not  one  of  ours  went  higher  than 
their  heads.  Gen.  C.  C.  Wolcutt  was  wounded  much  as 
Colonel  Wright  was,  but  more  severely.  No  officers  in  our 
regiment  were  wounded.  Two  Rebel  generals  were  either 
killed  or  wounded — General  George,  who  formerly  com- 
manded in  north  Mississippi,  and  General  Hall  or  Call.  I 
was  never  so  affected  at  the  sight  of  wounded  and  dead 
before. 

Old  grey-haired  and  weakly-looking  men  and  little  boys, 
not  over  15  years  old,  lay  dead  or  writhing  in  pain.  I  did  pity 
those  boys,  they  almost  all  who  could  talk,  said  the  Rebel 
cavalry  gathered  them  up  and  forced  them  in. 

We  took  all  inside  our  skirmish  line  that  could  bear  mov- 
ing, to  our  hospital,  and  covered  the  rest  with  the  blankets 
of  the  dead.  I  hope  we  will  never  have  to  shoot  at  such  men 
again.  They  knew  nothing  at  all  about  fighting,  and  I  think 
their  officers  knew  as  little,  or  else,  certainly  knew  nothing 
about  our  being  there.  About  dark  we  moved  back  to  this 
place,  two  miles  from  the  battle  field.  The  Johnnies  drew  off 
before  we  did,  I  think. 

Near  Gordon,  November  23,  1864. 

Came  here  to-day,  about  eight  miles,  find  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  all  here.  Have  heard  nothing  of  the  Rebels  to-day ; 
saw  ice  one  and  one-half  inches  thick  that  formed  last  night. 
Wore  my  overcoat  all  day.  The  left  wing  is  either  at  Milledge- 
ville  or  gone  on  east.  A  branch  road  runs  up  to  the  Capitol 
from  the  Macon  and  Savannah  railroad,  leaving  it  at  Gordon. 
It  is  now  all  destroyed.  This  road  is  very  easily  destroyed. 
The  iron  is  laid  on  stringers,  which  are  only  fastened  to  the 
ties  with  wooden  pins.  We  have  yet  done  nothing  at  it,  but 
boys  who  have,  say  they  pry  up  one  stringer  with  the  iron  on 
it,  roll  it  over  to  the  other  half  of  the  track,  lay  some  rails 
on,  and  fire  it.  The  iron  being  firmly  .fastened  to  the  strin- 
ger, expanding  under  the  heat  destroys  it  completely.  The 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  325 

country  here  is  quite  rolling,  not  quite  as  rich  as  the 
Indian  Spring  country,  but  there  is  yet  plenty  of  forage. 
The  woods  are  mostly  pine,  and  we  are  all  most  anxious 
to  get  where  we  will  have  some  other  fuel.  The  smoke  of 
pine  wood  is  so  disagreeable. 

Irwinton,  November  24,  1864. 

Made  12  miles  to-day  over  a  rolling  but  well  settled 
country.  This  is  a  nice  little  700  county  town.  I  hear  that 
the  troops  that  were  at  Macon  are  passing  us  on  our  right. 
Suppose  they  want  to  get  in  our  front  to  annoy  us  again. 
They  had  better  keep  out  of  our  way.  Had  another  roman- 
tic meeting  to-day  with  a  Miss  Howell.  Spent  the  evening 
at  her  house.  A  charming  girl,  very  accomplished.  Ad- 
mire her  very  much.  Understand  to-day  that  "Pap's" 
headquarters  are  at  Howell  Cobb's  house  in  Milledgville. 
Some  of  the  men  saw  a  Macon  paper  of  the  2ist  inst.  It 
gave  the  proceedings  of  a  citizen's  meeting.  In  resolu- 
tions they  declared  that  Sherman's  army  must  be  stopped 
in  its  mad  career  and  pledged  themselves  to  turn  out  en 
masse  and  harrass  us  all  day  and  night.  In  fact,  to  give  us 
no  rest  at  all.  The  operations  of  the  next  day  show  how 
they  commenced  their  good  work.  Have  not  heard  any- 
thing of  them  since. 

Near  Ball's  Ferry,  Oconee  River, 

November  25,  1864. 

Got  off  at  daylight ;  made  some  eight  miles,  formed  in  a 
line  in  a  field.  "Halt !"  "Cover !"  "Front !"  "Stack  arms !" 
Now  men  get  rails  and  fix  for  the  night.  So  we  think  we 
have  plenty  of  time  and  make  our  motions  accordingly.  We 
had  just  got  our  things  fairly  unpacked  when  the  "Gen- 
eral" sounded.  Fifteen  minutes  afterward  the  assembly, 
and  we  were  again  on  the  march.  All  right.  This  miser- 
able pine  smoke  again  to-night.  Saw  the  I7th  Corps 
to-day  for  the  first  time  on  the  trip.  They  tried  to  cross 


326  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

the  river  at  the  railroad  bridge,  but  the  Johnnies  would 
not  let  them,  and  they  had  to  come  down  to  our  road.  I 
think  we  are  to-night  half  way  on  our  journey.  The  boys 
had  a  great  time  last  night  in  Irwinton.  The  citizens  had 
buried  a  great  many  things  to  keep  them  from  the  "van- 
dals" and  the  boys  soon  found  it  out.  Hundreds  of  them 
were  armed  with  sharpened  sticks  probing  the  earth, 
"prospecting."  They  found  a  little  of  everything,  and  I 
guess  they  took  it  all  to  the  owners,  eatables  and  drinka- 
bles. We  fell  in  at  retreat,  and  had  general  order  No  26 
read  to  us  for  I  guess  the  2Oth  time.  It  declares  that  "any 
soldier  or  army  follower  who  shall  be  convicted  of  the 
crime  of  arson  or  robbery,  or  who  shall  be  caught  pillag- 
ing, shall  be  shot,  and  gives  officers  and  non-commissioned 
ditto  the  right  to  shoot  pillagers  in  the  act."  There  have 
been  20  to  30  booms  of  artillery  at  the  ferry  this  evening. 
Think  it  was  the  2d  Division.  They'll  be  smart  Rebels 
who  keep  that  division  from  laying  their  pontoons. 

Eight  miles  east  of  Oconee  River,  three  miles  south 
of  M.  &  S.  R.  R. 

November  26,  1864,  12  p.  m. 

Howard  wrote  Osterhaus  a  letter  congratulating  him 
on  the  success  in  the  Griswoldville  fight,  and  had  it  published 
to  us  to-day. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPT.  AND  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE., 
GORDON,  GA.,  November  23d,  1864. 

Mayor  General  Osterhaus,  Com'dg.  i$th  Corps: 
General : 

I  take  sincere  pleasure  in  congratulating  the  Brigade  of 
General  Walcutt,  of  General  Wood's  Division  of  the  I5th 
Corps,  on  its  complete  sucess  in  the  action  of  yesterday. 

Officers  from  other  commands  who  were  looking  on  say 
that  there  never  was  a  better  brigade  of  soldiers. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  327 

I  am  exceedingly  sorry  that  any  of  our  brave  men  should 
fall,  and  for  the  suffering  of  the  wounded,  the  thanks  of  the 
army  are  doubly  due  to  them. 

I  tender  my  sympathy  through  you  to  the  brave  and  excel- 
lent commander  of  the  brigade,  Brigadier  General  Walcutt. 

It  is  hoped  that  his  wound  will  not  disable  him. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)     O.  O.  HOWARD, 

Major  General. 

P.  S.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  is  estimated  from  1,500  to 
2,000  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  O.  O.  H.,  M.  G. 

We  lay  in  camp  until  4  p.  m.,  when  we  started,  and  after 
three  miles  of  miserable  pine  swamp  we  crossed  the  Oco- 
nee  on  pontoons.  It  was  dark,  but  I  noticed  that  the 
current  was  rapid  and  the  water  looked  deep. 

I  counted  80  steps  on  the  bridge  and  ten  boats  under  it. 
I  am  sure  that  I  to-day  saw  palm-leaf  fan  material  growing. 
It  is  a  most  singular  looking  plant.  The  country  this  side 
of  the  river  to  our  camp  is  quite  level  and  four-fifths  culti- 
vated. All  the  woods  pine,  and  soil  all  sand. 

Riddlesville,  November  27,  1864. 

Was  foraging  this  morning  and  supplied  the  regiment 
with  staples  within  a  mile  of  camp.  Took  the  road  as 
train  guard  at  i  a.  m.  Have  had  a  tedious  march  over 
sandy  roads  and  through  pine  woods  for  u  miles.  It  is 
too  dark  to  see  the  town.  Have  heard  no  "music"  to-day. 
We  crossed  the  head  waters  of  the  Ohoopee  river  to-day. 
Saw  a  magnolia  tree  by  the  road.  The  first  I  have  seen  in 
Georgia. 

Old  Indian  Battle  Ground,  near  Drummond, 

November  28,  1864. 

Made  a  dozen  miles  to-day  through  the  thickest  pine 
woods  I  ever  saw.  There  is  no  white  or  yellow  pine  here ; 


328  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

it  is  all  pitch.  I  think  the  division  has  been  lost  nearly  all 
day.  We  have  followed  old  Indian  trails  four-fifths  of  the 
time. 

The  foragers  have  found  a  large  number  of  horses  and 
mules  in  the  swamps  to-day.  Plenty  of  forage.  Sergeant 
Penney,  of  my  company,  died  in  the  ambulance  to-day. 
He  was  taken  sick  in  the  ranks  at  8  p.  m.,  26th,  of  lung 
fever.  He  has  never  been  right  healthy,  but  when  well  was 
always  an  excellent  soldier.  Lieutenant  Dorrance  swal- 
lowed his  false  teeth  a  few  nights  ago,  and  complains  that 
they  don't  agree  with  him. 

I  hear  that  Wheeler  jumped  the  2Oth  Corps  yesterday 
and  that  they  salivated  him  considerably.  We  caught  a 
couple  of  his  men  to-day,  on  our  road,  stragglers.  We  pick 
up  a  good  many  stray  Rebels  along  the  road,  but  they  are 
not  half  guarded  and  I  think  get  away  nearly  as  fast  as 
captured. 

Ten  miles  south  of  Sevastopol, 

November  29,  1864. 

All  day  in  an  awful  pine  forest,  hardly  broken  by  fence 
or  clearing.  I  never  saw  such  a  lonesome  place.  Not  a 
bird,  not  a  sign  of  animal  life,  but  the  shrill  notes  of  the 
tree  frog.  Not  a  twig  of  undergrowth,  and  no  vegetable 
life  but  just  grass  and  pitch  pine.  The  country  is  very 
level  and  a  sand  bed.  The  pine  trees  are  so  thick  on  the 
ground  that  in  some  places  we  passed  to-day  the  sight  was 
walled  in  by  pine  trunks  within  600  yards  for  nearly  the 
whole  circle.  Jnst  at  dusk  we  passed  a  small  farm,  where 
I  saw  growing,  for  the  first  time,  the  West  India  sugar 
cane.  One  of  the  boys  killed  the  prettiest  snake  I  ever 
saw.  It  was  red,  yellow  and  black.  Our  hospital  steward 
put  it  in  liquor.  We  made  about  n  miles  to-day. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  329 

Eight  miles  east  of  Summerville, 

November  30,  1864. 

Passed  through  the  above  named  town  this  morning. 
All  pine  woods  again  to-day.  Stopped  at  the  first  house  I 
came  to  .this  morning  and  asked  the  resident,  an  ash- 
colored  negress,  something  about  the  country.  She  said 
she'd  had  the  chills  and  fever  so  long  she  didn't  know  any- 
thing, but  "over  dar  was  a  house  whar  de  folks  had  some 
sense."  Captain  Smith  and  I  walked  over  to  the  house 
she  pointed  to  and  found  a  fine  old  German,  very  anxious 
to  know  if  we  intended  to  burn  his  house.  After  he  cooled 
down  a  little  he  grew  much  Union.  He  said  he  had  been 
ordered  to  join  the  army  one,  two,  three,  twenty  times, 
but  had  told  them  he  would  rather  be  shot  than  take  up 
arms  against  the  United  States.  The  I2th  Indiana  band 
struck  up  as  we  passed  his  house,  and  the  music  touched 
the  old  fellow's  heart.  The  tears  rolled  down  his  face 
and  he  blubbered  out,  "That  is  the  first  music  I  have  heard 
for  four  years;  it  makes  me  think  of  home.  D — n  this 
Georgia  pine  wood."  He  said  that  sugar  is  the  staple  here 
in  peace  times.  The  foragers  brought  in  loads  of  it  this 
evening. 

Cushingville  Station,  east  bank  of  Ogeechee  river, 

December  I,  1864. 

Ten  miles  to-day.  Had  just  finished  the  last  line  when 
(the  officers  are  talking  over  the  rumors  of  the  day)  I 
heard  Captain  Smith  say,  "Our  folks  captured  one  Rebel 
ram."  I  asked  him  where,  and  he  pointed  out  an  old  he 
sheep,  one  of  the  men  had  just  brought  in.  Our  regiment 
is  the  only  part  of  our  corps  this  side  of  the  river.  We  are 
guarding  the  prisoners  who  are  repairing  the  bridge.  The 
Rebels  had  destroyed  one  section  of  it.  The  I7th  Corps 
crossed  near  the  railroad  bridge,  but  are  ten  miles  behind  us 
to-night.  This  river  is  about  60  yards  wide  here,  and  we 


330  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

have  sounded  it  in  several  places  and  found  it  from  12  to 
15  feet  deep.  It  has  no  abrupt  banKs  here,  but  runs  river, 
lake,  swamp,  to  dry  land.  I  find  here  again  what  I  thought 
was  palm-leaf  fan  material,  on  the  Oconee  river.  It  turns 
out  to  be  swamp  palmetto.  The  palmetto  tree  also  grows 
near  here:  Twelve  p.  m. — Have  been  out  with  25  men  burn- 
ing railroad.  I  did  not  do  much  of  it,  for  it  is  the  i/th  Corps' 
work.  Two  of  Howard's  scouts  came  to  us  while  we  were 
at  work.  Said  they  had  just  left  Millen,  and  left  150  Rebels 
there.  Millen  is  four  miles  from  here  and  is  the  junction 
of  the  Savannah  and  Augusta  railroad.  One  of  our  men  cap- 
tured eight  mules  and  two  horses  to-day.  The  trees  along 
the  river  are  covered  with  Spanish  moss,  like  we  saw  so 
much  of  at  Black  River,  Miss.  The  men  shake  their  heads 
when  they  see  it  and  say,  "Here's  your  ager."  We  are  only 
guarding  this  bridge  until  the  I7th  Corps  gets  here.  Our 
corps  are  going  down  the  other  side  of  the  river.  An  im- 
mense number  of  "contrabands"  now  follow  us,  most  of 
them  able-bodied  men,  who  intend  going  into  the  army. 
We  have  not  heard  a  Rebel  gun  since  the  22d  of  last  month. 
They  don't  trouble  our  march  a  particle. 

West  bank  of  Ogeechee  River,  eight  miles 
south  of  Millen, 

December  2,  1864. 

Recrossed  the  river  this  morning  and,  joining  the  bri- 
gade, made  some  eight  miles  to-day.  We  are  ahead  of  the 
rest  of  the  army  or  could  have  made  more.  Pine  country, 
almost  uninhabited.  Saw  to-day  my  favorite  tree — the 
magnolia.  Have  seen  but  few  of  them  in  Georgia.  In  a 
swamp  we  passed  through  to-day  a  darkey  pointed  out  to 
us  some  lemon  trees.  Saw  in  the  same  swamp  some  yel- 
low pine.  Nearly  all  the  pine  this  side  of  the  Oconee  has 
been  the  "pitch"  variety. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  331 

South  bank  of  Scull  Creek, 
December  3,  1864. 

We  have  laid  here  all  day,  being  our  first  rest  since  leav^ 
ing  Atlanta.  Had  to  wait  for  the  I7th  Corps  and  "left 
wing"  to  catch  up.  We  laid  a  pontoon  across  the  river 
this  morning,  and  two  of  our  brigade  went  over  to  tear  up 
railroad  The  i/th  Corps  came  up  and  relieved  them 
about  2  p.  m. 

Colonel  Catterson  (our  brigade  commander)  told  me  to- 
day that  a  dispatch  from  Bragg  to had  been  inter- 
cepted yesterday,  that  stated  that  he  was  moving  on  us 
from  Savannah,  with  10,000  infantry  and  Dick  Taylor's 
Cavalry.  See  if  he  don't  "come  to  grief."  Two  of  our  divi- 
sions are  moving  12  miles  to  our  right — the  2d  and  3d — 
the  4th  is  with  us. 

Kilpatrick  has  gone  for  the  Millen  and  Augusta  railroad. 
If  he  hurts  it  much  he'll  do  more  than  cavalry  usually  do. 

December  4,  1864. 

Got  on  the  road  before  day-light  and  made  16  miles 
easily  by  3 130  p.  m.  Good  road,  many  fine  places,  and 
excellent  forage,  from  75  to  500  bushels  of  sweet  potatoes 
on  a  farm.  Heard  cannonading  for  two  hours  this  morn- 
ing. Think  it  must  have  been  in  the  vicinity  of  the  2Oth 
Corps.  Quite  a  variety  of  forest  trees  to-day  among  the 
pines,  but  all  of  a  stunted  growth.  Saw  a  very  curious 
cactus  by  the  roadside. 

Almost  all  of  the  people  from  this  section  have  sloped. 
I  think  I  have  not  seen  more  than  12  white  male  citizens 
since  we  left  Atlanta,  at  their  homes.  Am  fully  persuaded 
that  Grant's  "cradle  and  grave"  idea  is  correct. 

Thirty-six  miles  from  Savannah, 

December  5,  1864. 

Corse  had  the  road  to-day,  but  Wood  side-tracked,  took 
"catch  roads"  and  got  into  camp,  making  16  miles  as  soon 
as  Corse.  Rather  poor  country,  farms  small,  and  much 


332  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

pine.  Negroes  swarmed  to  us  to-day.  I  saw  one  squad  of 
30  or  40  turned  back.  Sherman's  order  is  not  to  let  any 
more  go  with  us  than  we  can  use  and  feed.  A  nice  yellow 
girl  came  to  our  regiment  about  an  hour  after  dark.  She 
is  the  property  of  Milly  Drake,  who  lives  30  miles  back. 
The  girl  showed  our  men  where  Milly  hid  her  horses  and 
mules,  in  return  for  which,  after  the  column  passed,  gentle 
Milly  took  half  a  rail  and  like  to  wore  the  wench  out. 
Broke  her  arm  and  bruised  her  shamefully.  That  was  all 
the  reason  that  the  girl  had  for  running  away. 

Eden  Ferry,  Ogeechee  river, 
December  6,  1864. 

We  lay  in  camp  until  I  p.  m.  when  we  suddenly  pulled 
out  and  made  this  point,  and  had  works  up  by  daik. 
There  was  a  good  wagon  bridge  over  the  river  at  this 
point,  which  the  Rebels  partially  destroyed.  But  a  portion 
of  our  3d  Brigade,  which  had  the  advance,  got  across  on 
the  remains  and  stirred  up  a  little  skirmish.  Killed  four 
Rebels  without  any  loss  to  us. 

Our  2d  Division  got  across  three  miles  below.  The  3d, 
I  guess  is  with  them.  Hear  nothing  of  the  other  corps. 
In  the  swamps  to-day  I  saw  more  of  the  "barren  lemon 
tree."  We  were  talking  over  last  night  what  this  army 
had  cost  the  Confederacy  since  the  4th  of  October  last, 
when  we  started  from  Eastpoint  after  Hood.  We  all  agree 
that  the  following  estimate  is  not  too  high  in  any  particu- 
lar: 100,000  hogs,  20,000  head  of  cattle,  15,000  horses  and 
mules,  500,000  bushels  of  corn,  100,000  of  sweet  potatoes. 
We  are  driving  with  us  many  thousand  of  the  cattle.  The 
destruction  of  railroad  property  has  been  complete  when- 
ever within  our  reach.  I  can  learn  nothing  of  the  prospect 
of  a  fight  at  Savannah,  or  whether  we  are  going  there.  All 
think,  though,  that  we  will  see  tide-water  this  week.  Peo- 
ple here  say  they  often  hear  the  firing  both  at  Savannah 
and  Charleston. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  333 

Wright's  Bridge,  Ogeechee  River, 

December  7,  1864. 

We  have  not  moved  to-day.  Sergt.  N.  Breed,  of  my 
company,  who  was  shot  through  the  right  lung  in  the  bat- 
tle of  November  22d,  died  to-day.  He  has  been  hauled  in 
an  ambulance  ever  since  and  improved  all  the  time  until 
the  last  two  days.  We  were  all  sure  that  he  would  get 
well.  There  was  no  better  soldier  in  the  army.  Every 
one  liked  him.  Hear  a  little  cannonading  this  p.  m.  a  few 
miles  down  the  river.  Lieutenant  Dorrance's  servant  cap- 
tured a  beautiful  coal  black  squirrel,  with  white  nose  and 
white  ear  tips.  He  is  larger  than  any  fox  squirrel  I  ever 


Five  miles  from  James'  Point,  Canoochie  River, 

December  8,  1864. 

Another  "Shermanism."  Our  3d  and  4th  Divisions 
crossed  the  Ogeechee  river  yesterday  at  Eden.  We  all 
supposed  that  we  would  follow,  this  morning,  but  here  we 
are  after  18  miles  hard  marching.  The  2d  Division  is 
ahead  of  us  and  part  of  it  at  the  river.  Heard  a  few  cannon 
shots  there  a  few  minutes  ago.  We  are  after  the  railroad 
that  runs  from  Savannah  to  Thomasville.  Kilpatrick 
crossed  the  Savannah  river  yesterday,  into  South  Carolina. 
Miserable  country  to-day.  The  last  ten  days  have  been 
quite  warm.  One  perspires  freely  lying  in  the  shade 
during  some  of  the  warmest  hours. 

Same  place,  December  9,  1864. 

The  division  lay  in  camp  all  day.  Our  regiment 
marched  12  miles  on  a  reconnoisance,  toward  the  Canoo- 
chie river,  southwest..  Found  nothing,  but  some  good 
foraging.  Cannonading  at  four  or  five  different  points,  on 
our  left  and  front.  Citizens  say  the  most  distant  is  at 
Charleston,  Savannah  and  Fort  McAlister.  It  is  said  that 
Corse's  Division  (4th),  of  our  corps,  had  a  fight  east  of  the 


334  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Ogeechee  to-day  and  were  victorious,  taking  50  prisoners 
and  one  gun.  Part  of  our  2d  Division  crossed  at  James' 
Point  to-day,  and  burned  the  Gulf  railroad  bridge  and 
four  miles  of  trestle-work  west  of  the  Ogeechee.  They 
found  very  large  rice  plantations,  which  are  flooded  with 
tide-water.  I  guess  Fort  McAlister  cannot  be  reached  by 
infantry  on  account  of  the  country  around  it  overflowing. 
The  men  say  that  Kilpatrick  has  gone  around  Savannah 
and  "cut  the  coast."  Big  raid! 

Before  Savannah,  December  10,  1864. 

Crossed  the  Ogeechee  near  the  mouth  of  the  Canoochie, 
then  a  canal,  and  then  up  the  tow  path  toward  the  city. 
All  the  other  divisions  of  our  corps  are  ahead  of  us.  An 
awful  country  to  get  through,  all  lakes  and  swamps.  We 
are  now  five  miles  from  Savannah.  Have  just  got  our 
works  up  and  got  our  suppers.  Hear  some  skirmishing  on 
-our  right,  should  think  a  mile  from  us.  Commenced  rain- 
ing at  dark  and  continued.  Made  20  miles  to-day. 

Before  Savannah,  December  n,  1864,  8  a.  m. 
Corse's  Division  is  just  on  our  right.  He  woke  me  up 
this  morning  by  firing  a  volley  of  eight  12-pounders,  in  real 
old  Atlanta  fashion.  He  was  answered  by  three  Rebel 
guns  planted  on  the  defenses  of  Savannah,  across  a  field 
and  swamp  from  us.  We  are  in  good  range  of  them.  Nine 
p.  m. — Found  this  morning  that  the  Rebels  have  a  big 
swamp  and  lake  between  their  position  and  ours.  It  is  im- 
possible to  get  at  them  there.  Our  corps  was  ordered  to 
swing  to  the  right.  The  Rebel  battery  had  fair  view  and 
close  range  on  any  road  we  could  take,  so  we  had  to  wait 
until  night,  when  ours  and  the  3d  Division  passed  them  without 
any  trouble.  We  are  now  on  a  main  road,  straight  and 
wide  enough  for  three  wagons,  which  we  think  leads  to  Pu- 
laski.  This  is  a  country  of  awful  swamps,  with  level  flats, 
between  which  are  rice  fields,  and  most  of  them  have  three 
feet  of  water  on  them.  Many  think  we  are  not  going  to 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  335 

make  an  effort  for  Savannah  at  present,  but  will  open  com- 
munication with  the  coast.  It  is  as  much  as  we  can  do  to 
find  dry  land  enough  to  camp  on.  We  are  not  caring  a  cent 
what  "Pap"  does.  It  is  quite  cold  again ;  to-night  promises 
to  be  the  coldest  night  of  the  winter. 

Before  Savannah,  December  15,  1864. 

First  mail  goes  in  15  minutes.  Our  2d  Division  charged 
and  took  Fort  McAlister,  at  sunset,  the  I3th — 19  guns  and 
300  prisoners ;  lost  92  men  killed  and  wounded.  We  will 
have  Savannah,  sure. 

Before  Savannah,  December  19,  1864. 

We  have  only  been  here  a  couple  of  days,  but  to-night 
we  are  to  make  and  occupy  a  line  within  700  yards  of  the 
Rebels. 

Green  Square,  Savannah,  Camp  iO3d  Illinois 
"Provost  Guards." 

December  22,  1864. 

We  have  just  by  a  hair's  breadth  missed  what  would 
have  been  a  most  unpleasant  fight.  We  lay  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Ogeechee,  with  the  enemy  on  the  opposite 
shore,  strongly  fortified.  We  had  crawled  through  the 
mud  and  established  a  line  of  rifle  pits  within  125  yards 
of  them;  150  portable  bridges  had  been  built  in  our  divi- 
sion and  I  believe  everything  was  in  readiness  for  hot 
work  the  next  day,  the  2Oth.  The  morning  of  the  2ist 
finds  the  enemy  gone  across  the  river  into  South  Carolina. 
The  next  day  we  moved  into  town  and  our  regiment  and 
the  4Oth  from  our  brigade  are  put  on  provost  duty. 

Green  Square,  Savannah,  Ga. 

January  9,  1865. 

Thinking  we  for  once  in  the  service  had  a  chance  to 
enjoy  quiet  life,  two  of  our  number  were  sent  to  Hilton 
Head  for  a  full  supply  of  men's  apparel  for  the  outer  man, 
and  of  refreshments  substantial  and  fancy  for  the  inner. 


336  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

They  returned  to-day  just  in  time  to  receive  marching 
orders.  The  men's  clothing  was  packed  in  valises,  and  all 
the  eatables  sold  to  parties  who  remain  here,  save  one  bar- 
rel of  Irish  potatoes.  We  leave  to-morrow  morning.  Major 
Willison's  resignation  was  accepted  to-day,  and  this  evening 
the  officers  unanimously  agreed  to  recommend  me  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  There  was  not  a  hint  towards  any  one  else. 
I  take  it  as  a  high  compliment.  I  am  the  youngest  captain 
in  the  regiment,  and  this  recommendation  made  by  men 
whom  I  have  campaigned  with  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
and  not  one  of  whom  has  been  accused  of  failing  to  do  his 
duty  in  the  service,  makes  me  feel  a  little  proud.  I  will 
value  the  recommendation  more  than  the  commission,  if 
I  get  it. 

Thunderbolt,  Ga.,  January  10,  '65. 

We  joined  the  brigade  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and 
took  the  shell  road  to  this  place,  only  four  miles  by  land, 
but  18  by  water.  There  are  some  fine  works  here,  erected 
by  the  Rebels  to  guard  the  water  approach  to  the  city. 
I  send  you  a  little  chip  of  a  palmetto  log  in  a  Rebel  work 
here. 

On  board  the  steamer  Crescent,  Atlantic  Ocean, 

January  12,  1865. 

We  are  steaming  on  that  rolling  deep  we've  heard  so 
much  of,  and  which  I  have  already  seen  and  felt  enough  of. 
There  is  but  little  air  stirring  and  the  water  is  quite 
smooth,  but  so  near  the  shore  there  is  always  a  ground 
swell,  which  is  to  me  somewhat  demoralizing.  We  are  out 
of  sight  of  land  and  just  before  dark  we  saw  a  school  of 
porpoise  which  looked  just  like  a  drove  of  hogs  in  the  water. 
Some  of  the  men  wanted  to  go  foraging  when  they  saw 
them.  This  makes  me  quite  dizzy,  but  I  would  not  miss 
it  on  any  account.  I  saw  the  full  moon  rise  from  the  water 
about  6:30  p.  m. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  337 

Beaufort,  S.  C.,  January  13,  1865. 

Retired  about  n  p.  m.  and  woke  up  here  this  morning. 
A  very  handsome,  small  town,  about  the  size  of  Canton, 
but  more  fine  dwellings.  All  have  been  confiscated  and 
sold  to  the  negroes  and  white  Union  men.  Find  the  I7th 
A.  C.  here,  but  about  ready  to  move  out  to  drive  the 
Rebels  away  from  the  ferry,  where  we  will  lay  our  pon- 
toons to  the  main  land.  The  I4th  and  2Oth  will  move  by 
land  and  join  us  on  the  main  land  somewhere.  I  can 
hardly  imagine  what  our  next  move  will  be,  but  mostly 
think  we  will  tear  up  the  railroads  through  the  Carolinas 
and  take  Charleston  and  Wilmington  during  the  spring 
campaign.  The  health  of  the  command  is  perfect,  and  all 
are  in  most  soldierly  spirits.  Thinking  nothing  impossible 
if  Sherman  goes  with  us,  and  go  he  will. 

Near  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  January  26,  1865. 

We  have  had  heavy  rains  and  now  very  cold  weather 
without  being  in  the  least  prepared  for  it.  We  move  to- 
morrow at  7  a.  m.  for  the  main  land  and  forage. 

All  tents  are  to  be  left  behind  "until  they  can  be  for- 
warded by  water."  That  seems  to  point  to  a  short  and 
sharp  campaign,  and  we  all  think  Charleston  is  the  ob- 
jective point. 

Near  Pocataligo,  S.  C.,  January  27,  1865. 

Moved  out  at  7  a.  m.  this  morning,  crossed  Broad  river 
on  pontoons,  and  are  about  four  miles  on  the  main  land 
towards  Charleston.  Can't  tell  our  position,  but  here  the 
Rebels  hold  all  the  crossings  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  six  miles  ahead  and  so  far  as  reconnoitered,  with 
fortifications  and  artillery. 

The  1 7th  Corps  lay  to  our  left  extending  across  the  C. 
&  S.  R.  R.  We  made  about  13  miles  to-day.  Saw  some 
fine  plantations  on  the  road,  nothing  but  chimneys  in  them, 
though.  It  feels  good  and  homelike  once  more  to  be  out 
loose.  The  boys  all  feel  it  and  they  act  more  like  school- 


33  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

boys,  having  a  holiday,  than  the  veterans  they  are. 
Wouldn't  it  be  a  joke  if  we  were  to  get  badly  whipped 
over  this  river?  I  believe  it  would  do  us  good.  We  are 
too  conceited.  The  river  ahead  is  the  Combahee,  and  we 
are  43  miles  from  Charleston  on  the  C.  &  Beaufort  road. 

Six  miles  south  of  Combahee  River, 

January  28,  1865,  6  p.  m. 

The  campaign  commences  Monday.  It  is  yet  cold ; 
about  an  inch  of  ice  forms  every  night,  and  sleeping  out 
without  tents  is  not  a  fair  sample  of  paradise.  I  am  in 
excellent  health  and  we  are  all  anxious  to  be  en  route. 

Combahee  River,  Charleston  and  Beaufort  road, 

January  29,  1865. 

We  have  had  some  rich  sport  to-day.  Our  regiment  and 
the  40th  are  out  here  on  a  little  reconnoisance,  and  making 
a  demonstration  pretending  to  be  building  a  bridge  on  the 
river,  etc.  A  party  of  Rebels  saluted  our  skirmishers  when 
they  got  to  the  river  bank  with  a  volley,  but  the  boys  soon 
drove  them  off,  with  no  loss  to  us  (or  the  Rebels  either). 
We  lay  around  a  couple  of  hours  shooting  at  marks,  etc., 
when  a  party  of  the  Rebels  attempted  to  reoccupy  their  pits. 
We  saw  them  coming  for  a  full  mile  and  they  had  hardly 
got  within  the  very  longest  range  before  the  4Oth  sent 
them  back  flying.  Later  in  the  p.  m.  half  a  dozen  Johnnies 
arose  from  the  mud  and  weeds  and  though  they  were 
across  the  river,  surrendered  to  us.  They  are  really  de- 
serters, though  they  say  not.  Had  a  great  time  getting 
them  over  the  river.  Four  board  and  log  rafts  were  made, 
launched,  and  put  off  after  them.  Two  of  them  were 
wrecked  against  the  bridge  benches,  and  the  other  two 
succeeded  in  bringing  over  three  Johnnies ;  we  left  the 
other  three  there.  I  certainly  would  not  have  risked  my- 
self on  one  of  those  rafts  for  500  prisoners  or  5,000  de- 
serters. General  Hazen  of  our  corps  has  been  made  a 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  339 

full  major  general.  The  other  division  commanders  only  by 
brevet,  and  they  feel  a  little  sore  over  it.  To-day  one  of 
General  Wood's  aids  saw  a  turkey  buzzard,  and  pointed  it 
out  to  the  general,  saying,  "there  is  a  turkey."  Old  Woods 
looked  at  it  and  answered,  "I  think  that  is  a  turkey  by 
brevet." 

McPhersonsville,  S.  C.,  January  30,  1865. 
We  returned  from  Combahee  river  last  night  and  at  10 
p.  m.  received  orders  to  move  at  6  a.  m.  Came  through 
Pocataligo  and  have  made  14  miles  to-day.  Quite  a  place, 
but  there  is  not  even  a  clearing.  Say  50  ordinary  dwell- 
ings dropped  down  in  the  pine  woods,  and  you  have  it. 
Not  a  citizen,  white  or  black,  here. 

January  31,  1865. 

Lay  still  all  day.  This  place  was  a  country  summer 
resort.  I  was  in  a  house  to-day;  the  walls  were  rough 
boards  white-washed,  the  floors  were  very  rough,  and  I 
think  had  never  been  carpeted,  yet  the  room  was  filled 
with  mahogany  furniture  of  the  best  quality,  had  a  fine 
piano,  splendid  plate  mirror,  and  a  fine  library.  About  20 
sets  of  buck  horns  were  nailed  to  the  walls  in  lines.  Hear 
that  the  I7th  Corps  has  crossed  the  Combahee.  We  hear 
that  strict  orders  against  burning  and  all  foraging  is  to 
be  done  even  more  regularly  than  before. 

Hickory  Hill,  S.  C.,  February  i,  1865. 
Fifteen  miles  to-day  and  had  an  excellent  supper  of 
South  Carolina  ham,  honey  and  sweet  potatoes.  Found  a 
good  deal  of  road  blockaded  to-day,  but  the  pioneers  re- 
moved the  obstructions  so  rapidly  that  the  train  did  not 
have  to  halt  once.  The  Rebels  disputed  our  advance  a 
little,  killed  a  cavalryman  and  wounded  another  for  us, 
but  did  not  stop  the  column  a  moment.  Sherman  rode  at 
the  rear  of  our  regiment  all  day  and  was  quite  sociable  with 
some  of  the  men.  Don't  think  any  of  the  officers  noticed 
him.  Miserable  pine  land  country,  but  some  quite  large 
plantations. 

22 


340  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

February  2,   1865. 

The  advance  started  at  daylight,  but  we  are  the  rear 
guard  of  the  corps  and  will  not  get  off  before  4  p.  m.  We 
have  no  idea  of  our  destination,  but  are  now  traveling  the 
Augusta  road. 

The  country  is  very  level,  but  every  mile  or  so  there  is 
a  little  swale  or  depression  of  but  a  few  feet,  and  before  a 
hundred  wagons  pass  over  it  thorough  corduroying  is 
necessary.  The  foragers  had  sharp  fighting  for  what  they 
got  to-day.  We  had  two  captured,  Billy  Haller  and  a  4Oth 
boy.  Our  boys  captured  several  and  killed  three.  Only  made 
six  miles. 

Baren's  Mills,  S.  C,  February  3,  1865. 
Fifteen  miles  to-day.  The  I7th  is  having  some  pretty 
lively  firing  on  our  right.  At  a  house  I  stopped  at  to-day 
a  "cit"  told  me  we  were  95  miles  from  Charleston,  65 
from  Augusta,  and  33  from  Branchville.  That  is  as  near 
as  I  can  tell  you  where  we  are.  We  expect  to  reach  Bu- 
ford's  bridge  on  the  Salkehatchie,  to-morrow.  The  Rebels 
have  fortified  there,  I  hear.  Our  brigade  has  the  advance, 
and  fun  to-morrow,  if  there  is  any.  It  has  rained  since  12 
last  night. 

Buford's  Bridge,  north  side  Salkehatchie  River, 

February  4,  1865. 

Most  unaccountably,  to  me,  the  Rebels  evacuated  an 
impregnable  position  (if  there  is  such  a  thing),  and  our 
brigade  was  saved  thereby  from  making  some  more  his- 
tory, for  which  I  am  grateful.  A  straight  pike  or  cause- 
way three  quarters  of  a  mile  long  and  in  which  there  are 
24  bridges,  was  our  only  chance  of  crossing.  They  had 
strong  embrasured  works,  but  left  an  hour  before  our  ad- 
ance  reached  their  fortifications.  We  got  a  lot  of  good 
horses  and  more  good  forage  than  I  ever  before  saw  brought 
in.  I  am  sure  that  we  have  either  a  nice  ham  or  shoulder 
for  every  two  men  in  the  regiment,  and  I  think,  more.  A 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  34! 

Company  B  boy  got  a  good  strong  horse  which  he  let  me 
have.  People  here  say  that  the  Rebels  have  all  gone  to 
Branchville.  Colonel  Catterson  told  Sherman  (he  was  in 
our  camp  some  time  to-night)  that  a  negro  reported  that 
the  Rebels  had  all  gone  to  Branchville.  "Pap"  replied, 

"They  can  go  to  Branchville  and  be  d d."     We  infer 

from  that,  that  we  don't  go  there.  He  also  said  to  Catter- 
son, who  was  superintending  the  bridge  building,  "Build 
them  strong,  Catterson,  build  them  strong;  the  whole  army 
may  have  to  pass  over  them,  and  the  'Army  of  the  Cumberland' 
is  a  very  heavy  army,  sir."  Besides  the  little  slur  on  the 
I4th  and  2Oth,  that  gave  us  an  idea  of  the  whereabouts  of 
the  left  wing. 

I  just  now  heard  what  made  the  Rebels  evacuate  this. 
Mowers'  Division  of  the  I7th  formed  line  and  marched 
across  this  stream  and  swamp  eight  miles  below  at  River 
Bridge.  They  waded  through  three  miles  of  water  and  then 
took  the  Rebel  works  with  a  loss  to  us  of  only  12  killed 
and  72  wounded.  I  think  that  beats  anything  I  ever  heard 
of  in  the  show  line.  There  was  a  town  of  20  or  25  houses 
here,  but  we  have  used  it  up  in  building  bridges. 

Twelve  miles  south  of  Johnston's  Summit,  Augusta  and 
Branchville  Railroad, 

February  5,  1865. 

They  call  the  stations  on  this  road  "turnouts."  Negroes 
are  swarming  into  our  camps.  I  never  heard  a  negro  use 
the  word  "buckra"  until  last  night.  One  of  the  9/th  Indi- 
ana was  killed  this  morning  while  foraging  close  to 
camp.  Our  men  killed  two  and  captured  four  Johnnies, 
all  dressed  in  our  clothing.  Only  moved  four  miles  to-day, 
and  will  probably  lay  here  a  few  days  as  Sherman  told 
Wood  we  were  four  days  ahead  of  time,  he  having  counted 
it  would  take  that  long  to  effect  a  crossing  at  Buford's 
bridge. 


342  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Little  Salkehatchie  River, 

February  6,  1865,  2  p.  m. 

Yesterday  was  quite  warm,  but  my  overcoat  is  useful 
again  to-day.  General  Kilpatrick  caught  up  with  us  last 
night,  also  General  Williams  with  five  brigades  of  the  2Oth 
A.  C.  So  instead  of  waiting  several  days  Sherman  said 
he'd  chance  them  for  the  railroad  with  what  troops  there 
are  up.  We  took  the  road  this  morning.  Stopped  here  for 
the  3d  Division  to  clear  the  swamp  of  some  Johnnies, 
which  I  think  they  have  about  effected. 

Five  p.  m. — Miserable  swamp,  but  the  3d  Division  only 
lost  two  men  in  crossing.  There  must  have  been  a  division 
of  Wheeler's  here  by  the  signs. 

Bamber's  Station,  A.  &  C.  R.  R. 

February  7,  1865. 

Our  regiment  led  the  corps  to-day.  The  I7th  Corps 
strikes  the  railroad  at  Midway,  three  miles  to  our  right, 
and  the  2Oth  to  the  left  five  miles.  We  are  14  miles  north- 
west of  Branchville.  The  enemy  are  on  the  opposite  bank 
of  the  Edisto,  two  miles  from  us.  There  is  a  great  "peace" 
excitement  among  the  citizens  here.  This  day's  work  cuts 
off  all  railroad  communication  between  Georgia  and  the 
eastern  part  of  the  Confederacy.  I  saw  another  new  thing 
(to  me)  in  the  destruction  of  railroads.  After  the  iron  has 
been  heated  by  the  burning  ties,  by  a  simple  contrivance, 
four  men  twist  each  rail  twice  around.  They  put  a  clamp 
on  each  end  of  the  rail,  and  put  a  lever  in  the  clamp  per- 
pendicularly, and  two  men  at  each  end  of  the  lever,  will 
put  the  neatest  twist  imaginable  in  the  heated  part  of  the 
rail.  I  never  saw  so  much  destruction  of  property  before. 
Orders  are  as  strict  as  ever,  but  our  men  understand  they 
are  in  South  Carolina  and  are  making  good  their  old 
threats.  Very  few  houses  escape  burning,  as  almost  every- 
body has  run  away  from  before  us,  you  may  imagine  there 
is  not  much  left  in  our  track.  Where  a  family  remains  at 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  343 

home  they  save  their  house,  but  lose  their  stock,  and  eata- 
bles. Wheeler's  Cavalry  is  about  all  we  have  yet  found  in 
our  front  and  they  keep  afar  off.  The  citizens  fear  them 
fully  as  much  as  they  do  us.  A  lady  said  to-day  that  she 
would  as  lief  have  us  come  as  Wheeler's  men ;  she  could 
see  no  difference.  Wheeler's  men  say,  "Go  in,  South  Caro- 
lina !"  and  the  Yankees  say  the  same  thing.  We  got  50 
bales  of  cotton  here,  which  I  suppose  will  be  burned. 
Struck  the  railroad  at  9 130  a.  m. 

Bamberg,  S.  C.,  February  9,  1865. 

We  were  to  go  to  Cannon's  bridge  on  the  Edisto  four 
miles,  but  heard  the  bridge  was  burned,  so  we  did  not  go. 
I  think  we  will  go  up  the  river  towards  Augusta.  Late 
Confederate  papers  say  that  Thomas  has  started  south  to- 
wards Montgomery,  leaving  Hood  behind  him.  Many  of 
the  officers  have  strong  hopes  of  something  resulting  from 
the  peace  movement.  Can't  say  that  I  have. 

Near  Grahams.  C.  &  A.  R.  R. 

February  9,  1865. 

Rear  guard  on  our  road  to-day.  Made  about  a  dozen 
miles,  very  disagreeable  march.  Snowed  a  little  in  the 
morning  and  terribly  cold  all  day.  Got  into  camp  at  7:30 
p.  m.  This  is  a  pine,  sand  country,  with  some  very  good 
plantations,  but  all  look  neglected.  The  people  who  re- 
main at  home  seem  an  ignorant,  forlorn  set  who  don't  care 
for  their  "rights"  or  anything  else.  I  think  the  militia 
they  have  brought  out  to  oppose  us  must  suffer,  this 
weather,  being  unused  to  the  business  and  unprovided  with 
rubbers,  etc.  Poor  devils! 

February  10,  1865. 

Had  no  "general"  this  morning  (our  signal  for  getting 
up),  so  when  the  "assembly"  sounded  we  climbed  from 
our  blankets  to  our  saddles  and  went  off  on  a  railroad  burn- 


344  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

ing  expedition.  Our  brigade  by  noon  had  completely  de- 
stroyed two  and  one-half  miles.  The  i/th  and  our  3d 
Division  crossed  the  South  Edisto  to-day,  four  miles  from 
here.  We  will  cross  to-morrow,  I  hear.  Also  hear  that 
S.  D.  Lee's  Corps  of  Hood's  Army  is  at  Augusta.  We 
whipped  them  July  28,  '64,  and  can  do  it  again.  I  think 
the  whole  army  is  here  now.  We  have  1 5-day  half  rations 
yet.  Wonder  where  it  will  take  us. 

Seven  miles  west  of  Orangeburg,  S.   C, 

February  n,  1865. 

Made  18  miles  to-day.  Crossed  South  Edisto  river  in 
rear  of  the  corps.  The  river  here  is  about  40  yards  wide, 
with  a  swift  current,  water  very  clear.  First  10  miles 
to-day  was  through  pretty  good  country,  the  last  eight 
miles  mostly  pine  forest  with  more  rolling  ground  than  I 
have  seen  since  we  left  the  Oconee  river  in  Georgia.  Re- 
ceived my  commission  as  major  to-day,  also  two  letters 
from  you  dated  November  3d  and  January  4th.  I  ask 
pardon  for  thinking  that  you  did  not  write  regularly.  The 
fault  must  be  in  the  mails.  All  kinds  of  rumors  afloat 
to-night  of  peace,  war,  and  I  don't  know  what  all.  We 
came  near  being  burned  up  last  night,  the  fire  crept  along 
through  the  pine  leaves  and  burned  my  vest,  partly,  and 
ruined  my  jacket,  and  almost  spoiled  my  overcoat,  all  of 
which  were  under  my  head.  Also  burned  the  colonel's 
pillow.  The  flames  bursting  up  woke  us,  and  I  expect  our 
first  motion  would  have  amused  a  very  solemn  man. 

Shilling's  Bridge,  left  bank  North  Edisto  River, 

February  12,  1865. 

Started  at  7  a.  m.,  moved  one-half  mile  and  laid  still  two 
hours  waiting  for  Hazen  and  Smith  to  straighten  out  ahead 
of  us.  I  thought  I'd  tell  you  how  we  had  been  bored  to- 
day, fooling  along  the  road  from  7  a.  m.  until  3  o'clock  in 
the  night,  making  five  miles,  but  it  disgusts  me  to  think  of 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  345 

it.  Crossing  the  river  is  what  delayed  us.  The  Rebels 
held  Hazen  there  four  or  five  hours  and  shot  a  few  men 
for  him,  but  he  run  the  48th  Illinois  through  some  swamps 
on  their  flank,  crossed  and  got  some  prisoners.  They  are 
from  Hood's  army  and  just  got  here  yesterday.  This  North 
Edisto  is  about  like  the  other  branch.  The  I7th  Corps 
crossed  below  our  right,  and  the  2Oth  on  our  left.  Can't 
hear  anything  of  the  I4th  or  Kilpatrick.  It  is  freezing  now 
and  has  been  very  cold  all  day,  yet  to  get  clear  water  for 
dinner  hundreds  of  the  men  waded  out  to  the  middle  of  the 
pond  (muddy  on  the  border)  over  their  knees  in  water. 
They  think  nothing  of  it.  It  was  the  2d  Brigade  2d  Divi- 
sion that  waded  the  swamp  and  the  river  to  flank  the 
Rebels  from  the  crossing.  A  large  number  of  foragers 
waded  with  them  just  for  devilment.  It  was  from  middle 
to  arm-pit  deep  and  I  suppose  they  waded  at  least  a  mile. 
They  got  54  prisoners,  and  the  rest  threw  down  guns, 
knapsacks  and  everything  that  impeded  their  flight.  The 
flanking  party  did  not  lose  a  man.  The  men  of  this  army 
surprise  me  every  day  with  their  endurance,  spirit  and 
recklessness. 

Twenty-four  miles  southeast  of  Columbia,  S.   C., 

February  13,  1865. 

Made  18  miles  to-day.  Rear  guard  for  the  corps  in  the 
morning,  but  the  2d  and  3d  Divisions  took  a  right  hand 
road  and  in  the  p.  m.  the  4th  Division  also  went  to  the 
right.  We  followed  a  cow  path  to  camp.  Passed  through 
two  large  turpentine  camps.  The  boys  fired  most  all  the  trees 
and  nearly  burned  us  up.  The  smoke  made  the  road  very 
disagreeable.  There  is  not  much  destruction  of  property 
since  Logan's  last  order.  Hear  of  no  skirmishing.  The 
chivalry  give  us  very  little  trouble,  never  stop  but  at  rivers. 
Foragers  get  a  good  many  animals.  Provisions  plenty.  Hear 
nothing  of  the  left  wing,  or  Kilpatrick. 


34-6  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 


VII. 

February  14,  1865  to  May  19,  1865.  Adopting  a  badge  for  the  isth 
Army  Corps.  Its  origin.  Fighting  Wheeler's  Kentucky  Brigade. 
Shelled  in  bivouac.  Crossing  the  river  on  pontoons.  Mayor  of 
Columbia  surrenders  the  city.  Marching  through  Main  street  to 
the  Capitol,  greeted  by  citizens  and  negroes  wild  with  joy.  Troops 
get  drunk.  Two-thirds  of  the  city  burned.  Restoring  order.  On 
provost  duty  stopping  progress  of  the  flames.  Last  to  leave  the 
city,  followed  by  fifty  white  families  and  innumerable  negroes. 
Straggling  fights.  Shooting  prisoners  in  retaliation  for  murdering 
foragers.  Resume  of  miles  marched.  More  foragers  murdered. 
Sherman  issues  retaliatory  orders.  Sacrilegious  stealing.  Hungry 
for  the  first  time.  The  country  denuded  for  15  miles  around. 
Cheraw  captured  and  burned.  Exploding  concealed  ammunition 
magazines.  Foraging  stopped  and  army  rations  resumed.  Crossing 
into  North  Carolina.  Forager  fights  and  outrages  at  Fayetteville. 
Corduroy  roads  covering  quicksand.  Fighting  near  Goldsboro, 
N.  C.  On  picket  duty.  North  Carolina  clay  eaters.  Lee's  sur- 
render disbelieved.  Reviewed  by  Sherman  in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  Truce 
between  Sherman  and  Johnston.  News  of  Lincoln's  assassination. 
Army  crazy  for  vengence.  Johnston's  surrender.  Shocked  at 
Sherman's  terms.  Out  of  Carolina  into  Virginia.  Graphic  scenes 
and  incidents.  Meets  army  of  Potomac.  Reviewed  by  Howard, 
Logan  and  Hartsuff  in  Petersburg.  In  view  of  Richmond  but 
frobidden  to  enter.  In  camp  at  Alexandria,  Va.  Participates  in 
the  Grand  Review,  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  24,  1865.  Finale. 

EXPLANATORY  NOTE. 

Until  this  time  the  I5th  Army  Corps  had  never  had  a  Corps 
Badge,  though  the  other  corps  commanders  had  long  tried  to 
induce  General  Logan  to  adopt  one.  Yielding  at  last  to  their 
solicitations  he  issued  the  following  order: 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  347 

HEADQUARTERS  FIFTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 
BAKER'S  PLANTATION,  S.  C,  February  14,  1865. 

GENERAL   ORDERS, 

No.    10. 

I.... The  following  is  announced  as  the  badge  of  this 
Corps :  A  miniature  Cartridge-box,  black,  one-eighth  of 
an  inch  thick,  fifteen-sixteenths  of  an  inch  wide,  and 
thirteen-sixteenths  of  an  inch  deep,  set  transversely  on  a 
field  of  cloth  or  metal,  one  and  five-eights  of  an  inch 
square ;  above  the  cartridge-box  plate  will  be  stamped  or 
worked  in  a  curve  the  motto:  "Forty  Rounds."  The  field 
on  which  the  cartridge-box  is  set  will  be  Red  for  the  ist 
Division,  White  for  the  2d  Division,  Blue  for  the  3d  Divi- 
sion, and  Yellow  for  the  4th  Division.  For  the  Head- 
quarters of  the  Corps  the  field  will  be  parti-colored  of  Red, 
White,  Blue  and  Yellow. 

II.  ..  .The  badge  will  invariably  be  won  upon  the  hat  or 
cap. 

III.  . .  .It  is  expected  that  this  badge  will  be  worn  con- 
stantly by  every  officer  and  soldier    in    the    corps.     If    any 
Corps  in  the  army  has  a  right  to  take  pride  in  its  badge, 
surely  that  has   which   looks   back   through   the  long  and 
glorious  line  of  Wilson's  Creek,  Henry,  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
Russel    House,    Corinth,    luka,    Town    Creek,    Chickasaw 
Bayou,  Arkansas   Post,   Champion   Hills,  Big  Black,  Sny- 
der's  Bluff,  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  Cherokee  Station,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  Ringold,  Knoxville,  Resaca, 
Kingston,  Dallas,  New  Hope  Church,  Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Nickojack,  Decatur,  the  22d  and  28th  of  July, 
before   Atlanta,   Jonesboro,    Lovejoy,   Altoona    Pass,    Gris- 
woldville,  Fort  McAlister,  and  scores  of  minor  struggles ; 
the  Corps  which  had  its  birth  under  Grant  and  Sherman 
in  the  darker  days  of  our  struggle;  the  Corps  which  will 
keep  on  struggling  until  the  death  of  rebellion. 

BY  COMMAND  OF  MAJOR  GENERAL  JOHN  A.  LOGAN  : 

MAX  WOODHULL, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


34-8  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

The  adoption  of  the  cartridge  box  as  the  distinguishing 
badge  of  the  I5th  Corps  is  said  to  have  originated  in  this 
way:  Before  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  a  soldier  in 
the  nth  Army  Corps  asked  an  Irish  soldier  of  the  I5th 
Corps  what  the  badge  of  his  corps  was. 

"And  phwat  is  that  badge  thing?"  he  asked. 

Being  told  and  having  no  badge  to  show  in  reply,  he 
answered,  slapping  his  cartridge  box:  "It's  that,  wid  40 
rounds !" 

DIARY  CONTINUED. 

Nearing  Columbia,  S.  C.,  February  14,  1865. 
Good  road  to-day.  Fine  rolling  country.  Sand  with 
pine  wood  and  scrub  oak.  Saw  the  wagoners  use  their 
locks  to-day  for  the  first  time  since  we  crossed  the  Oconee, 
in  Georgia.  Logan's  escort  got  after  some  Johnnie  fora- 
gers to-day  and  captured  four  wagons  and  50  or  60  horses 
and  mules.  The  Rebels  are  shooting  from  the  other  side 
of  the  river  and  there  was  a  lot  in  front  of  us  when  we 
stopped  here.  Lee  is  said  to  be  in  front  with  40,000  men. 
It  seems  to  be  the  opinion  that  we  will  have  a  fight.  Can 
probably  tell  better  to-morrow  night.  Rain  all  p.  m.,  and 
still  quite  cold.  Wear  overcoats  all  the  time. 

Three  miles  from  Columbia,  February  I5th. 
A  rather  lively  day.  We  started  the  Johnnies  right  by 
our  camp.  Our  brigade  in  advance  of  the  corps  and  army. 
The  4Oth  Illinois  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  drove 
them  four  miles  rapidly,  losing  only  five  men.  Our  regi- 
ment then  relieved  them.  They  opened  artillery  on  us 
and  fought  stubbornly.  It  was  the  Kentucky  brigade  of 
Wheeler's  "Critter  Co."  We  drove  them  from  a  splendid 
position  and  heavy  line  of  works  with  the  assistance  of 
three  companies  of  our  3d  brigade,  4th  Iowa  and  — th 
Ohio.  They  killed  F.  M.  Cary,  of  my  company  and  took 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  349 

my  orderly  Sergt.  T.  S.  Brown's  right  arm  off.  Wounded 
three  other  men  in  the  regiment,  Henry  H.  Orendorff,  Joe 
Parkinson  and  Stewart,  of  company  F.  It  is  said  we  go 
for  the  city  to-morrow. 

February  16,  1865,  7  a.  m. 

The  Johnnies  shelled  our  bivouac  all  night,  but  hurt  no 
one,  but  induced  us  to  extinguish  our  fires,  and  killed  one 
of  the  48th  Illinois.  We  could  hear  their  cars  whistling 
all  night.  They  had  large  fires  near  town.  We  can  see 
the  steeples  of  the  city  plainly  this  morning.  Many  think 
the  Rebels  have  left.  If  not  I  look  for  a  hard  battle 
to-day.  There  is  no  firing  this  morning  yet,  and  our 
skirmish  line  is  advancing.  I  can  see  it  a  mile  ahead  of 
us.  Can  see  the  State  House  now,  and  a  large  portion  of 
the  city.  We  can  shell  it  from  here. 

Nine  a.  m. — The  enemy  opened  the  three  guns  on  us  again 
that  he  used  last  night,  but  the  skirmish  line  deployed  along 
the  river  silenced  them. 

Ten  a.  m. — The  sun  has  shown  himself,  dispelled  the  fog, 
and  we  find  we  have  an  excellent  view  of  the  city.  From 
our  position  it  looks  much  like  Peoria  from  the  left 
bank  of  the  river.  The  Congaree  here  is  larger  than  the 
Illinois.  Our  batteries  have  got  in  position  well  down  on  the 
river  bank,  and  some  of  them  are  bursting  shell  over  the 
city.  Our  division  moves  down  to  take  a  closer  view  ir 
a  few  minutes.  The  skirmishers  are  shooting  quite  livelj 
across  the  river.  You  know  our  muskets  carry  up  well 
at  800  yards.  'Tis  a  beautiful  morning  and  view. 

Twelve  m. — The  2d  Division  leading,  we  pushed  for  the 
Rebel  works  at  9.  Johnnies  had  mostly  retired  across  the  river. 
Our  pontoon  train  running  by  a  Rebel  battery  made  some 
fun.  They  were  furiously  shelled  and  stood  quite  a  heavy 
fire  of  musketry.  Casualties,  one  mule  killed,  and  the 
seat  torn  out  of  a  small  darkey's  pants.  We  now  lay  on  the 
river  side  opposite  the  town.  A  number  of  our  guns  are 


35°  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

practicing  on  the  State  House  and  other  prominent  build- 
ings, and  the  Rebels  are  not  answering  a  shot,  though  we 
can  see  a  number  of  cavalry  riding  through  the  town. 
Hazen  is  laying  the  pontoons  above  the  junction  of  the 
.Saluda  and  Broad  rivers  where  we  will  cross.  Yesterday 
when  the  4oth  Illinois  charged  the  Rebels  out  of  one  of 
their  numerous  barricades  a  "Forty"  boy  and  a  Johnnie  had  a 
real  scuffling  fight .  Forty  downed  the  Rebel  and  choked  him 
until  he  surrendered.  Some  26th  boys  captured  a  Rebel 
colonel  after  we  crossed  the  Congaree  creek.  He  was 
quite  drunk  and  rode  up  to  the  boys  who  were  straggling 
ahead  of  the  skirmish  line,  and  asked  them  what  they 
were  waiting  for,  and  why  they  did  not  come  along. 

8  p.  m. — Crossed  the  Saluda,  since  dark,  and  stay  here 
for  the  night  on  the  bank  of  Broad  river. 

Columbia,  S.  C.,  February  I7th. 

The  3d  brigade  of  our  division  marched  all  night  and 
worked  all  night  before  they  could  get  a  cable  across  the 
river  to  string  the  pontoons,  and  the  bridge  was  not  com- 
pleted until  10  a.  m.  There  was  lively  skirmishing  all 
the  time.  Our  division  crossed  first.  The  3d  brigade  cap- 
tured 30  Rebels  near  the  crossing.  The  Mayor  came  out 
and  surrendered  the  town  to  Colonel  Stone,  commanding 
our  3d  brigade.  The  division  marched  through  Main 
street  to  the  Capitol.  We  were  never  so  well  received  by 
citizens  before,  and  the  negroes  seemed  crazy  with  joy. 
We  halted  in  the  street  a  few  minutes,  and  the  boys 
loaded  themselves  with  what  they  wanted.  Whiskey  and 
wine  flowed  like  water,  and  the  whole  division  is  now 
drunk.  This  gobbling  of  things  so,  disgusts  me  much. 
I  think  the  city  should  be  burned,  but  would  like  to  see  it 
done  decently. 

February  18,  1865. 

Two-thirds  of  the  city  burned  last  night.  The  colonel 
and  I  got  up  last  night  and  rode  through  the  streets  until 
3.  At  4  this  morning  the  4Oth  Illinois  cleared  the  streets 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  351 

with  bayonets  and  order  again  reigned.  Our  regiment 
is  on  Provost  duty,  and  I  have  just  been  through  the  streets 
(8:30  p.  m.)  and  it  is  as  quiet  as  Sunday  night  in  Canton. 

February  19,  1865. 

Another  block  of  the  city  burned  to-day.  Our  regiment 
was  out  and  stopped  the  fire  from  spreading  further.  Have 
seen  the  men  work  better  on  other  occasions.  In  de- 
stroying some  captured  ammunition  to-day  the  63d  Illi- 
nois, by  an  explosion,  lost  three  killed  and  20  wounded.  We 
captured  about  20  cannon  here.  I  noticed  one  complete 
battery  of  fine  Blakely  guns. 

Sixteen  miles  northeast  of  Columbia, 

February  20,  1865. 

The  Provost  Guards  were  the  last  to  leave  town.  Fifty 
families  of  Columbians  accompany  us ;  have  no  idea  how 
many  negroes.  Hard  day's  march. 

Pleasant  Hill,  S.  C,  February  21,  1865. 
Fifteen  miles  to-day.     Yesterday  we  traveled  the  Cam- 
den  road.     To-day  we  turned  northwest.     Poor  country, 
quite  rolling.    Pine,  scrub  oak  and  sand. 

Page's  Ferry,  Wateree  River,  February  22,  1865. 
It  seems  to  be  certain  that  we  have  Charleston.  Made 
about  ten  miles  to-day.  Our  regiment  and  the  6th  Iowa 
were  sent  down  to  an  old  ferry  to  make  a  demonstration. 
Found  no  enemy.  The  2d  and  3d  are  already  across  and 
we  cross  in  the  morning  and  take  the  advance.  We  now 
have  eight  days'  rations  which  are  to  last  30 — wish  they'd 
burn  them  all  to  get  rid  of  the  wagons. 

Flat  Rock  P.  O.,  February  23,  1865. 

Fifteen  miles.  Traveled  east  or  northeast.  Very  rough, 
hilly  country,  hills  rock  topped.  No  enemy.  Passed 
through  a  village  called  "Liberty  Hill,"  some  elegant 
houses.  Forage  plenty.  No  news  and  don't  know  any- 
thing. 


352  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

West's  Cross  Roads,  13  miles  northeast  of 
Camden,  S.  C, 

February  24,  1865. 

Made  14  miles  a  little  south  of  east.  We  passed  about  a 
mile  south  of  Gates'  old  battle  ground.  A  dozen  foragers  of 
the  99th  Indiana  were  captured  to-day,  but  our  foragers 
caught  more  Rebels  than  that,  besides  50  wagons  and  200 
horses  and  mules  belonging  to  refugees.  Stringent  orders 
from  Howard,  Logan  and  Wood  about  stealing.  It  has 
rained  for  24  hours.  No  enemy  in  front  to-day.  Got  out 
of  the  clay  hills  again  on  sand — pine  flats. 

February  25,  1865. 

Have  not  moved  to-day.  Rebels  captured  15  men  of  the 
29  Missouri  to-day.  Our  foragers  have  been  straggling 
for  seven  or  eight  miles  in  every  direction ;  three  of  our 
regiment  captured  a  refugee  camp  of  seven  men,  ten  guns, 
two  revolvers,  some  pistols  and  25  mules.  Ordered  to  keep 
men  well  in  hand  this  p.  m.,  as  Rebel  cavalry  is  demon- 
strating on  our  front  and  flanks.  I  think  it  must  be  at  a  re- 
spectful distance.  Rumor  says  Longstreet  is  somewhere 
around.  Think  we  are  waiting  for  the  left  of  the  army  to  get 
up  with  us.  Our  foragers  have  been  to  Camden,  13  miles ; 
pretty  tall  straggling.  Others  have  been  out  southeast 
II  miles,  and  saw  our  2d  and  4th  divisions  moving  on  a  big 
road,  side  by  side,  going  east.  Nobody  can  yet  decide 
what  our  destination  is.  It  is  reported  to-day  that  13 
of  our  2d  division  foragers  were  found  by  the  roadside 
dead,  with  a  card  marked  "Fate  of  foragers;"  also  four  of 
the  3d  division  killed.  Gen.  J.  E.  Smith,  commanding, 
shot  four  of  his  prisoners  in  retaliation.  Colonel  Catterson 
says  as  we  were  marching  to  this  camp  to-day  he  had 
pointed  out  to  him  the  tree  under  which  Baron  DeKalb 
died  at  the  battle  of  Camden.  Have  had  48  hours  of  rain 
with  a  prospect  of  continuance. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  353 

Fullersville,  S.  C,  Sunday,  February  26,  1865. 
Sixty  hours  of  rain  terminated  at  daylight  this  morning,  but 
it  has  not  hurt  the  sandy  roads  a  particle.  We  made  n  miles 
in  four  and  one  quarter  hours,  and  are  now  waiting  for  a 
bridge  to  be  completed  over  this  creek,  "Lynch's."  We  think 
now  we  are  on  the  road  to  Wilmington.  The  map  shows  a 
good  deal  of  railroad  to  be  destroyed  on  the  way,  but  I  think 
we  will  get  through  by  the  i$th  of  March.  Expect  "you  uns" 
are  getting  anxious  about  "we  uns"  again.  This  is,  I  think,  a 
much  longer  thing  than  the  Savannah  campaign.  Our  4th 
division  took  103  prisoners  here  last  night  and  our  2d  took 
200  more  to-day.  They  are  State  Line  Troops  and  muchly  de- 
moralized. It  is  a  fact  about  that  murdering  yesterday.  Sher- 
man is  out  in  a  big  retaliation  order  to-day.  Wilmington  is 
reported  ours.  Thunder  and  lightning  last  evening.  Hear 
that  the  rain  has  raised  the  creek  until  it  is  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  wide,  and  we  won't  get  across  to-morrow.  I  think  I'll  put 
down  our  principal  campaigns : 

ist.  Dec.,  1862,  The  Tallahatchie  River  Cam- 
paign    120  miles. 

2nd.  April,  1863,  The  Panola,  Miss.,  9  day's 

march  180  miles. 

3rd.     July,  1863,  Jackson,  Miss.,  Campaign...      100  miles. 

4th.  Oct.  &  Nov.,  '63,  Memphis  to  Chatta- 
nooga, and  in 

5th.  Dec.  to  Maryville,  Tenn.,  and  back  to 

Scottsboro,  Ala 800  miles. 

6th.     Jan.,  '64,  Wills  Valley  Campaign 100  miles. 

7th.  Feb.  &  March,  '64,  Dalton,  Ga.,  Cam- 
paign    300  miles. 

8th.     May  until  Sept.,  Atlanta  Campaign 400  miles. 

9th.  Oct.,  1864,  Atlanta  to  Gadsden,  Ala.,  and 

return  300  miles. 

loth.     Nov.  &  Dec.,  Atlanta  to  Savannah 300  miles. 

Jan.,  Feb.  &  March,  '65,  The  Carolina  Cam- 
paign    400  miles. 

Total    3,ooo  miles. 


354  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

A  captain  and  seven  men  who  went  foraging  yesterday  are 
still  missing,  supposed  to  be  captured  or  killed.  And  20  men 
of  the  97th  Indiana  who  went  out  this  morning  are  reported 
all  killed  by  a  46th  Ohio  man,  who  was  wounded  and  left  for 
dead  by  the  Rebels.  He  says  the  97th  boys  paid  for  themselves 
in  dead  Rebels  before  they  were  overpowered.  Our  corps  has 
now  500  prisoners,  three  times  as  many  as  we  have  lost. 

Tillersville,  February  27,  1865. 

We  have  half  a  mile  of  bridging  to  build  before  we  can  get 
across  this  Lynch's  creek,  the  rains  have  swollen  it  so  much. 
Our  6th  Iowa  foragers  we  thought  captured  are  all  right. 
They  got  across  this  creek  before  the  freshet  and  it  cut  them 
off.  The  97th  Indiana  men  are  gone  up.  All  of  the  20  killed  or 
captured  but  3511  dead  Rebels  were  found  on  their  little  bat- 
tle field,  so  the  report  comes  from  General  Corse,  I  understand. 
The  Rebels  are  losing,  I  should  think,  about  3  or  4  men  to 
our  one,  but  they  are  showing  more  manhood  than  those  who 
opposed  our  march  in  Georgia.  It  isn't  the  "militia,"  for  the 
360  prisoners  our  corps  have  taken  within  four  days  surren- 
dered without  firing  a  shot.  They  were  S.  C.  chivalry,  proper. 
The  men  who  are  most  active  on  their  side,  I  think,  belong  to 
Butler's  or  Hampton's  command  from  the  Potomac.  They  are 
cavalry  and  don't  amount  to  anything  as  far  as  infantry  is 
concerned,  but  only  think  they  venture  a  little  closer  than 
Wheeler  does.  (You  are  expected  to  emit  a  sarcastic  ha!  ha!! 
and  remark:  "They  don't  know  Sherman's  army  as  well  as 
Wheeler  does.")  They  say  we  can't  cross  here  until  the  water 
falls,  and  as  there  is  an  excellent  prospect  for  more  rain,  we 
are  thinking  of  building  cabins  in  which  to  pass  the  rainy 
season.  All  our  v/ounded  are  doing  excellently.  The  sur- 
geons say  that  the  wounded  do  much  better  being  transported 
in  ambulances  than  in  stationary  hospitals.  They  escape  the 
foul  air  is  the  main  reason. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  355 

February  28,  1865. 

High  water  still  keeps  us  here.  We  will  probably  get  off 
to-morrow.  It  is  thought  we  will  cross  the  Great  Peedee  at 
Cheraw;  there  is  so  much  swamp  lower  down  that  might 
trouble  us. 

A  thousand  rumors  afloat  to-day.  The  citizens  have  it  that 
Grant  has  whipped  Lee  since  the  Hatcher  Run  affair.  It  rained 
some  last  night  and  is  now — 8  p.  m. — sprinkling  again.  If  it 
rains  hard  to-night  we  will  have  to  give  up  crossing  here  and 
go  higher  up.  The  i/th  is  across.  The  left  wing  is  reported 
near  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  but  don't  know  that  it  is  so.  We  have 
heard  that  Davis'  commissioners  have  returned  to  Washington. 

We  are  having  a  time  sure.  They  say  now  that  we  will  not 
get  across  to-morrow.  I  heard  some  outrageous  jokes  to-day 
about  a  Golden  Christ  which  was  stolen  by  some  of  our  thieves 
in  Columbia,  and  in  an  inspection  on  the  26th  it  was  found 
in  a  department  headquarter's  wagon.  They  are  too  wicked  to 
tell.  This  army  has  done  some  awful  stealing.  Inspectors 
pounce  down  on  the  trains  every  day  or  two  now  and  search 
them.  Everything  imaginable  is  found  in  the  wagons.  The 
stuff  is  given  to  citizens  or  destroyed.  Our  last  winter  cam- 
paign ends  to-day.  Only  five  and  one-half  months  more  to 
serve. 

Left  Bank  Lynch's  Creek,  March  i,  1865. 
We  have  finally  got  across  this  deuced  creek.  It  has  de- 
layed us  fully  four  days,  more  than  any  three  rivers  did  before. 
Our  division  train  is  yet  to  cross  and  may  not  get  over  in  24 
hours.  We  are  getting  hungry  for  the  first  time,  having  for- 
aged the  country  out  for  15  miles  around.  The  4th  division 
started  to-day  on  the  Cheraw  road.  Prisoners  taken  to-day 
report  that  Wilmington  was  being  evacuated  when  Schofield 
with  the  23d  Corps,  dropped  in  and  took  the  town  and  a 
brigade  of  prisoners.  I  wish  he'd  organize  an  expedition  and 
bring  us  some  late  papers.  Everybody  is  speculating  on  a 
big  time  with  the  enemy  crossing  the  Great  Pedee,  but  I  don't 
believe  they  will  trouble  us  as  much  as  this  confounded  creek 
has. 


356  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

New  Market,  S.  C.,  March  2,  1865. 

A  disagreeable,  half  drizzle,  half  sprinkle,  all  last  night  and 
to-day.  Our  brigade  in  advance  and  made  10  miles.  Poor 
country,  but  pretty  well  settled.  Many  of  the  men  have  had 
no  breadstuffs  for  three  days.  They  drew  two  days  of  hard- 
bread  February  i8th,  and  have  foraged  everything  else  we 
have  had  since.  Don't  know  when  we  draw  again.  Still  have 
our  8  days  of  "tack"  in  the  wagons.  We  will  get  plenty  of  for- 
age again  to-morrow.  Can  hear  nothing  of  the  enemy.  We 
left  Darlington  20  miles  on  our  right  to-day  and  will  prob- 
ably strike  the  Peedee  near  Society  Hill. 

Five  miles  south  of  Cheraw,  S.  C.,  March  3,  1865. 

General  Wood  says  we  have  made  24  miles  to-day.  Our 
whole  corps  on  one  road  and  hardly  a  check  all  day.  This  is 
Thompson's  Creek,  and  the  Rebels  under  Hardee  thoroughly 
fortified  it.  Logan's  orders  are  to  carry  the  works  to-morrow, 
but  as  usual  the  Rebels  have  left.  The  i/th  A.  C.  took  Cheraw 
this  p.  m.  without  a  fight,  getting  27  pieces  of  field  artillery, 
3,000  stands  of  small  arms,  besides  a  great  deal  of  forage. 

There  were  only  two  or  three  small  farms  on  the  road  to- 
day. Poorest  country  I  have  seen  yet.  An  intelligent  pris- 
oner captured  to-day  says  that  Kilpatrick  has  taken  Char- 
lotte, N.  C.,  and  that  Lee  is  evacuating  Richmond.  Saw  the 
sun  to-day;  had  almost  forgotten  there  was  such  a  luminary. 

Cheraw,  S.  C.,  March  4,  1865. 

We  were  from  8  a.  m.  until  4  p.  m.  on  this  little  five  miles. 
The  i /th  have  their  pontoons  down  and  have  a  division  across. 
Hear  that  the  enemy  is  fortified  a  short  distance  back  from 
the  river.  Can  hear  no  firing.  Our  foragers  took  Society  Hill 
last  night. 

This  is  a  very  pretty  place,  about  the  size  of  Canton. 

The  river,  Great  Peedee,  is  navigable  for  boats  drawing  five 
feet.  The  left  wing  is  at  Chesterfield  12  miles  above.  There 
is  an  immense  amount  of  cotton  here.  Noticed  guards  on  it, 
and  some  think  it  is  to  be  sent  down  the  river.  A  thousand 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  357 

mounted  men  are  to  start  from  here  to-morrow  (from  our 
corps,  and  it  is  said  the  same  number  from  each  corps)  for 
• — somewhere — rumor  says,  to  release  8,000  of  our  prisoners 
at  Florence.  Our  wounded  men  are  all  doing  splendidly. 

March  5,  1865. 

The  1 7th  and  all  our  corps,  except  our  division,  have 
crossed  the  river.  We  follow  in  the  morning.  The  enemy  did 
not  attempt  to  oppose  us.  The  boys  say  that  an  intercepted 
dispatch  from  Hampton  to  General  Butler  reads :  "Do  not 
attempt  to  delay  Sherman's  march  by  destroying  bridges,  or 
any  other  means.  For  God's  sake  let  him  get  out  of  the  coun- 
try as  quickly  as  possible."  Were  I  one  of  the  S.  C.  chivalry 
I'd  be  in  favor  of  turning  out  en  masse  and  building  up  roads 
for  him. 

We  will  get  out  of  S.  C.  to-morrow.  I  have  not  been  in 
a  house  in  the  State  occupied  by  a  citizen.  Everything  in 
Cheraw  of  any  value  to  the  enemy,  including  cotton  and  busi- 
ness houses,  is  going  up  in  smoke.  Hear  to-day  that  Schofield 
is  in  Goldsboro  or  Fayetteville,  N.  C. 

General  Wood  says  we  have  120  miles  yet  to  make.  You 
may  give  the  credit  of  Wilmington,  Charleston  and  Georgetown 
to  whom  you  please,  we  know  Sherman  deserves  it.  We  hear 
that  that  miserable  Foster  is  claiming  the  glory  over  his  cap- 
ture of  Charleston.  We  are  yet  pretty  short  of  breadstuff's, 
but  have  plenty  of  meat.  Sherman  has  been  heard  to  say  that 
this  army  can  live  on  fresh  meat  alone  for  30  days.  I'd  like 
to  see  it  tried  on  him.  We  think  to-day  that  Goldsboro  is  our 
resting  place.  You  must  understand  that  we  don't  know  any- 
thing at  all  about  anything.  Our  foragers  all  went  across  the 
river  this  morning  and  got  plenty  of  flour,  meal  and  meat. 
They  were  out  n  miles  and  saw  a  few  Rebels.  The  Rebels 
left  seven  cannon  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  burned 
a  very  large  amount  of  commissary  and  ordnance  stores. 


358  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Five  miles  northeast  of  Cheraw,  S.  C., 

March  6,  1865. 

Crossed  the  Peedee  this  morning.  Just  after  we  passed 
through  the  town  a  I2th  Indiana  boy  seeing  some  powder 
scattered  on  the  ground  threw  a  coal  on  it.  It  communicated 
with  a  concealed  ammunition  magazine  and  made  a  fine  ex- 
plosion, killed  and  wounded  20  or  30  men  in  our  division, 
stampeded  a  lot  of  horses  and  burned  some  citizens.  There  have 
been  half  a  dozen  of  such  explosions.  Good  country  here,  for- 
agers get  plenty,  and  also  pick  up  many  Rebel  deserters  and 
stragglers.  Our  foragers  yesterday  found  two  of  Kilpatrick's 
men  and  five  Rebel  lieutenants  all  drunk  and  put  them  under 
guard. 

Goodwin's  Mills,  16  miles  northwest  of  Cheraw, 

March  7,  1865. 

About  ii  miles  to-day  and  in  camp  at  noon.  The  I4th  and 
2Oth  had  come  down  and  cross  at  Cheraw.  "We  are  waiting 
on  them.  That  expedition  to  Florence  was  a  failure.  Our 
men  got  the  town  but  were  driven  out  before  they  destroyed 
a  thing.  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  officers  did  not  do  their 
whole  duty.  They  should  have  succeeded  or  lost  more  blood. 
Our  loss  amounted  to  nothing.  One  of  the  best  foraging  days 
of  the  whole  trip.  Our  foragers  to-day  captured  some  negroes 
and  horses.  The  negroes  say  they  were  running  them  over 
here  to  get  away  from  General  "Schofield's  company."  We  are 
about  on  the  State  line  now,  and  will  leave  S.  C.  to-morrow. 
I  think  she  has  her  "rights"  now.  I  don't  hate  her  any  more. 

Five  miles  north  of  Laurenburg,  N.  C.,  Laurel  Hill, 

March  8,  1865. 

One  hundred  and  twelve  miles  of  steady  rain, 
and  the  best  country  since  we  left  Central  Georgia. 
Looks  real  Northern  like.  Small  farms  and  nice 
white,  tidy  dwellings.  Wheat  fields  look  very  well.  In 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  359 

the  cornfields  rows  are  five  feet  apart,  and  one  stalk  the  size 
of  a  candle,  in  a  hill.  But  at  every  house  there  were  from  200 
to  1,000  bushels  of  corn  and  an  abundance  of  fodder.  Sherman 
said  yesterday  that  our  campaign  is  over,  and  to-day  Howard 
issued  an  order  that  all  foraging  for  provisions  shall  cease, 
there  being  enough  rations  in  the  wagons  to  last  us  through. 
I  dreamed  last  night  of  being  at  home  on  leave  and  seeing  you 
all,  and  starting  back  to  the  army  again.  Only  90  miles  yet 
to  mail. 

Four  miles  south  of  Montpelier,  N.  C, 

March  9,  1865. 

Rained  nearly  all  last  night  and  poured  down  all  day.  Our 
regiment  had  the  advance  of  the  division,  but  we  followed 
J.  E.  Smith.  He  is  the  poorest  traveler  in  the  army.  We 
had  to  corduroy  all  the  road  after  him.  Only  made  four  miles. 
I  never  saw  such  a  country.  There  seems  to  be  a  thin  crust 
over  a  vast  bed  of  quicksand.  I  saw  wagons  yesterday  and 
to-day  moving  along  not  cutting  more  than  two  inches,  all 
at  once  go  down  to  the  hub,  and  some  to  the  wagon  boxes. 
I  was  riding  to-night  on  apparently  high  ground  in  the  woods 
and  three  times  the  ground  gave  way  just  like  rotten  ice,  and 
let  my  horse  in  belly  deep.  We  have  worked  hard  to-day. 

I 

Randallsville,  N.  C.,  March  10,  1865,  12  p.  m. 
Ten  miles  to-day,  most  of  which  we  had  to  corduroy.  Our 
regiment  in  rear  of  the  division  and  corps.  Crossed  the  Lum- 
ber river  about  4  p.  m.  Fine  country.  We  had  reveille  at  3 
this  morning,  and  the  rear  of  train  with  our  1st  brigade  did 
not  get  in  until  an  hour  later.  They  had  a  hard  time.  Hope 
we'll  get  the  advance  to-morrow.  This  Lumber  river  is  a 
spoon  river,  with  a  third  of  a  mile  of  swamp  on  each  side 
thereof.  Hear  to-night  that  Grant  has  taken  Petersburg,  and 
believe  it  to  be — bosh.  Blair,  with  the  i/th  A.  C.,  is  close  to 
Fayetteville,  but  it  is  said  he  has  orders  to  lie  still  and  let  the 
left  wing  enter  the  town. 


360  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Davis  Bridge,  Rockfish  Creek,  March  n,  1865. 
Ten  miles  to-day,  full  seven  of  which  had  to  be  corduroyed. 
The  worst  road  I  ever  saw.  The  i/th  corps  occupied  Fayette- 
ville  to-day.  The  foragers  took  the  place.  It  is  as  large  as 
Columbia  and  has  a  large  arsenal.  Heard  of  two  or  three 
men  being  captured  by  the  Rebels  yesterday  and  a  couple  to- 
day. They  also  made  a  little  dash  on  our  rear  to-day  on 
the  3d  division  without  accomplishing  anything.  I  do  wish 
you  could  see  the  crowd  of  negroes  following  us.  Some  say 
2,000  with  our  division.  I  think  fully  1,000. 

Fayetteville,  N.  C,  March  12,  1865. 

We  are  camped  a  couple  of  miles  from  town.  Marched 
about  13  miles  to-day.  Had  to  put  down  pontoons  at 
both  branches  of  Rockfish  creek.  At  the  town  of  Rock- 
fish,  the  I7th  A.  C.  burned  a  factory,  throwing  about  150 
women  out  of  employment.  One  of  our  gunboats  came  up 
to  this  place  to-day  with  dispatches  for  Sherman.  It  went 
back  before  our  division  got  in  and  took  a  lot  of  mail. 

The  I4th  A.  C.  is  garrisoning  this  place,  but  the  i/th 
got  in  first.  The  97th  Indiana  boys,  who  were  captured 
back  at  Lynch's  Creek,  all  got  away  from  the  enemy  and 
back  to  us  to-day,  five  of  them.  Sherman  said  yesterday 
that  the  campaign  ends  only  with  the  war.  Hear  that 
Hampton  whipped  Kilpatrick  splendidly.  Don't  think 
that  is  any  credit  to  him.  Also  hear  that  Bragg  whipped 
Schofield  at  Kingston,  that  Thomas  has  Lynchburg,  and 
30,000  other  rumors.  In  the  last  23  days  the  commissary 
has  issued  only  two  and  one  half  days'  of  bread.  I  lost 
my  sword  to-day.  Left  it  where  we  stopped  for  dinner. 
We  have  lost  so  much  sleep  of  late  that  at  every  halt  half 
the  command  is  asleep  in  a  minute.  I  lay  down  and 
told  them  not  to  wake  me  for  dinner  nor  until  the  regi- 
ment moved.  The  regiment  had  started  when  Frank  woke 
me,  and  I  got  on  my  horse  too  stupid  to  think  of  anything. 
Did  not  miss  my  sword  for  five  miles,  when  I  went  back 
for  it,  but  no  use.  Foragers  for  the  last  week  have  been 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  361 

counting  on  rich  spoils  in  the  town,  and  many  of  them 
have  not  reported  to  their  regiments  within  six  or  eight 
days,  camping  every  night  with  the  extreme  advance.  The 
day  before  the  place  was  taken,  five  men  who  were  15  miles 
ahead  of  the  column  ventured  into  town.  They  were  gob- 
bled and  one  of  them  killed.  Next  morning  100  foragers 
hovered  around  town  until  the  column  was  within  about 
six  miles,  when  the  foragers  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and 
went  for  the  town. 

There  were  about  1,000  Rebel  cavalry  herein  who  fell 
back  before  our  boys  skirmishing  lively,  clear  through  the 
town,  when  they  suddenly  charged  our  fellows  and  scooped 
them.  Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured  is  25  or 
30.  They  killed  several  after  they  captured  them,  and  one 
they  hung  up  by  the  heels  and  cut  his  throat.  Our  boys 
retreated  about  a  mile  from  town,  and  went  in  again  in 
more  solid  order.  They  were  too  scattered  the  first  time. 
They  were  successful  and  routed  Johnny,  who  left  six  dead 
in  the  streets. 

March  14,  1865. 

It  is  supposed  we  will  be  here  two  or  three  days,  to  get 
some  shoes  up  the  river. 

Left  bank,  Cape  Fear  River,  Opposite  Fayetteville, 

March  15,  1865. 

Everything  valuable  to  the  Rebels  has  been  destroyed, 
and  we  are  about  ready  to  push  on  to  Goldsboro.  Fayette- 
ville is  about  a  3,000  town,  nearly  all  on  one  street.  There 
was  a  very  fine  United  States  Arsenal  burned  here,  some  20 
good  buildings,  all  of  which  are  "gone  up."  The  rest  of  the 
town  is  old  as  the  hills.  We  lay  on  the  river  bank  expect- 
ing to  cross  all  last  night,  and  finally  reached  the  bivouac 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  river  just  as  the  troops 
on  this  side  were  sounding  the  reveille.  This  is  the  2ist 
river  we  have  pontooned  since  leaving  Scottsboro,  May 


362  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

ist,  '64.  It  is  more  like  the  Tennessee  than  any  other 
stream  we  have  crossed.  We  send  from  here  all  the  negroes 
and  white  refugees  who  have  been  following  us,  also  a  large 
train  to  Wilmington  for  supplies.  The  number  of  negroes 
is  estimated  at  15,000.  Nearly  all  the  population  of  this 
town  will  go  inside  our  lines.  It  has  rained  all  day  and 
seems  abominably  gloomy.  Makes  me  wish  for  letters 
from  home.  Last  night  while  we  were  standing  around 
fires  by  the  river,  some  scoundrel  went  up  to  a  negro  not 
75  yards  from  us,  and  with  one  whack  of  a  bowie  knife, 
cut  the  contraband's  head  one  third  off,  killing  him. 

At  Goldsboro,  we  are  promised  a  short  rest.  If  it  were 
not  that  the  wagons  are  so  nearly  worn  out  that  they  must 
be  thoroughly  repaired,  I  don't  believe  we  would  get  it. 
Well,  time  passes  more  swiftly  in  campaigning  than  in 
camp.  Most  of  the  army  are  moved  out. 

» 

Two  miles  from  left  bank  of  Black  River,  N.  C., 

March  16,  1865. 

About  14  miles  to-day.  About  a  dozen  swamps,  as  many 
showers,  three  hard  rains,  and  an  awfully  rough  march. 
The  men  waded,  I  should  think  altogether,  one-half  mile 
of  water  from  ankle  to  waist  deep.  They  went  through 
every  swamp  yelling  like  Indians.  Rained  all  yesterday 
and  last  night.  I  saw  peach  and  thorn  blossoms,  some 
wintergreen  and  arbor  vitae  growing  wild.  Two  days  like 
this  would  demoralize  a  citizen  much.  We  drew  three 
days'  hard  bread  to-day  to  last  five.  In  the  26  preceding 
our  division  drew  besides  sugar  and  coffee,  only  two  and 
one-half  days'  of  hard  bread.  Very  poor  country  to-day. 
The  boats  brought  us  some  late  papers. 

The  latest  account  of  Sheridan  capturing  Early.  Don't 
believe  it.  Saw  Herald's  account  of  the  inauguration.  The 
writer  should  be  shot.  Of  half  a  dozen  boats  that  come  to 
Fayetteville,  only  two  brought  cargoes,  and  both  of  them  oats. 
Ridiculous,  40,000  pair  of  shoes  would  have  been  sensible. 
Many  of  the  men  are  barefoot.  Sherman  and  Hampton  are 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  363 

having  a  spicy  correspondence  on  murdering  foragers.  Think 
Hampton  is  a  little  ahead  at  this  date.  Have  only  seen  the 
first  letter  on  each  side.  There  is  talk  of  a  fight  at  Golds- 
boro.  I  do  hope  this  army  will  get  two  weeks  in  camp  before 
it  battles.  It  is  a  little  too  loose  now  for  heavy,  steady  work. 
General  Wood  says  that  Sheridan  with  four  divisions  of  cav- 
alry is  coming  through  to  join  us. 

Beaman's  Cross  Roads,  March  17,  1865. 
About  12  miles,  more  than  half  of  which  had  to  be  cordu- 
royed. Roads  awful.  If  a  wagon  pulls  off  the  corduroy,  it 
drops  to  the  hub.  There  are  two  or  three  inches  of  black 
sand  on  the  surface  covering  quicksand  unfathomable.  No 
one  need  tell  me  that  bad  roads  will  stop  an  army.  The  2Oth 
corps  had  sharp  little  affair  yesterday.  Hear  their  loss  i? 
over  400.  Everyone  is  expecting  a  fight  before  we  read 
Goldsboro.  The  whole  corps  is  camped  together  to-night 
Our  division  has  been  in  rear  of  the  corps  two  days  and  has 
not  had  a  fight  in  the  advance  since  we  left  Columbia.  I 
believe  I  have  not  heard  a  hostile  shot  for  27  days.  Howard 
is  here  to-night.  Whole  corps  is  on  this  road. 

Four  miles  north  from  Smithfield's,  N.  C., 

March  18,  1865. 

Fifteen  miles,  good  roads,  men  only  waded  in  swamps. 
Whole  corps  in  camp  before  dark.  Well  settled  country  and 
oceans  of  forage.  Our  foragers  and  the  7th  Illinois  "mounted 
thieves"  had  a  nice  little  fight  to-day.  Came  near  scaring 
Wade  Hampton's  chivalry  out  of  their  boots ;  four  dead 
Yanks,  and  n  Rebels  is  said  to  be  the  result.  Our  fellows 
run  them  off  to  the  left  of  our  road  into  the  I4th  and  20. 
who  hurried  their  march  a  little.  We  are  27  miles  from 
Goldsboro  and  18  from  Faisons  on  the  railroad,  which 
point  we  will  probably  make  to-morrow  and  possibly  get  our 
mail.  If  I  don't  get  at  least  six  letters  from  you  I  will  be 
much  disappointed.  We  are  much  amused  over  the  Rebel 


364  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

papers  we  get.     All  seem  to  take  "gobs"  of  comfort  from 
Lee's  declaration  that  "Tecumseh"  can  and  must  be  whipped. 
Several  of  them  assert  that  our  treatment  of  citizens  is  good. 
Don't  believe  a  word  of  it,  though  I  wish  it  were  so. 
Twelve  miles  from  Goldsboro,  and  six  from  railroad, 

March  19,  1865. 

Made  15  miles.  Only  two  bad  swamps.  Very  heavy  artil- 
lery and  musketry  on  our  left  (i4th  and  2Oth  Corps)  all  day. 
Hear  this  evening  that  our  men  suffered  heavily.  General  Lee 
is  said  to  be  here.  Opinion  is  divided  as  to  our  having  a  battle 
to-morrow.  First  rate  country  to-day  and  a  good  abundance 
of  forage.  The  farmers  here  have  not  many  negroes.  Rebel 
cavalry  demonstrated  on  our  left  to-day,  quite  lively  and  cap- 
tured several  foragers.  Five  foragers  from  our  regiment  who 
had  been  out  five  days  and  whom  we  had  about  given  up,  re- 
turned to-night.  They  have  been  with  the  ijth  A.  C.  All 
quiet  on  our  right. 

One  and  one-half  miles  from  Neuse  River, 

March  20,  1865. 

We  moved  about  a  mile  north  and  then  west  for  five  miles. 
Pushed  some  Rebel  cavalry  before  us  all  the  time.  Our 
brigade  was  in  advance  and  lost  about  25  men.  We  are 
about  two  miles  east  of  where  the  battle  was  fought  yester- 
day by  the  I4th  and  2Oth  corps,  and  right  where  the  Rebel 
hospital  was.  The  Rebels  are  now  due  west  of  us,  our 
line  running  north  and  south,  and  I  think  there  can  be  no 
difficulty  in  communicating  with  Schofield.  Goldsboro  is 
undoubtedly  evacuated.  In  the  fight  yesterday  one  divi- 
sion of  the  I4th  was  worsted  at  first  and  driven  some 
distance,  but  rallied,  repulsed  the  enemy,  and  the  corps 
getting  into  line,  charged  four  to  six  times,  and  slaughtered 
the  Rebels  awfully.  Their  loss  was  far  greater  than  ours. 

Ten  p.  m. — A  Pennsylvania  man,  who  was  wounded  in  the 
fight  yesterday,  and  carried  in  by  the  Rebels  who  took  off 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  365 

his  leg  above  the  ankle,  came  in  to  us  a  few  minutes  ago. 
He  crawled  nearly  half  a  mile,  part  of  the  way  through 
a  swamp.  It  seems  that  the  Rebels  had  a  hospital  there 
they  evacuated  and  left  him  and  a  half  dozen  other 
wounded,  two  of  whom  the  man  saw  killed  by  the  skirmish 
firing.  We  are  on  the  skirmish  line  to-night.  I  suppose 
it  is  400  yards  to  the  Rebel  skirmishers,  and  not  a  very 
dangerous  line. 

March  21,  1865. 

We  moved  out  this  morning  just  before  daylight  and 
got  within  50  yards  of  the  Rebel  skirmish  line,  but  nothing 
going  forward  on  our  right  or  left,  we  returned  to  our 
original  position.  Had  one  man  in  Company  H  slightly 
wounded.  We  could  have  held  our  advanced  line  just  as 
well  as  not.  I  think  our  right  must  rest  on  the  river. 
Some  35,000  or  40,000  Rebels  are  reported  here  under  John- 
ston.. Some  prisoners  report  Lee.  I  would  like  to  see 
them  whaled,  but  would  like  to  wait  until  we  refit.  You 
see  that  too  much  of  a  good  thing  gets  old,  and  one  don't 
enjoy  even  campaigning  after  50  or  60  days  of  it  together. 
I  believe  I  am  surfeited  with  oven  bread — ("death  balls" 
our  .cook  calls  them),  biscuit,  and  pork.  I  feel  finely;  wet 
from  head  to  foot,  has  rained  since  noon  hard  most  of  the 
time.  About  I  p.  m.  the  main  line  moved  out  on  our 
skirmish  line,  and  as  quick  as  they  get  their  works  up 
(about  one-half  hour),  our  regiment  deployed  as  skirm- 
ishers on  our  brigade  front,  and  our  whole  corps  skirmish 
line  moved  forward.  I  think  the  I7th  drove  the  enemy 
on  our  right  at  the  same  time.  We  took  their  skirmish 
pits  along  the  whole  front  of  our  division,  but  they  were 
very  close  to  their  main  line  and  we  did  have  a  very  in- 
teresting time  holding  them,  I  assure  you.  I  don't  think 
it  was  more  than  75  yards  to  the  main  line  of  the  Rebel 
works,  and  they  in  plain  sight,  only  a  straggling  scrub  oak 
undergrowth  and  a  few  large  pines  intervening.  The  Rebels 
came  out  of  their  works  twice  to  retake  their  pits. 


.366  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

The  first  time  the  left  of  our  regiment  had  to  fall  back, 
the  brigade  on  our  left  giving  way  and  exposing  our  flank, 
but  we  all  rallied  in  a  minute  and  made  the  Johnnies  fairly 
fly  back.  The  next  time  our  brigade  again  broke,  but  our 
men  held  their  pits,  and  the  26th  Illinois,  which  was  just 
coming  out  to  relieve  our  regiment,  faced  its  left  wing 
for  the  pits  occupied  by  the  enemy,  and  went  for  them  with 
a  first-class  yell.  You  should  have  seen  the  Rebels  run. 
It  did  me  a  power  of  good.  The  other  brigade  then  came 
back  to  their  position,  the  26th  relieved  me,  and  we  are 
now  ready  for  bed.  We  have  been  wonderfully  fortunate 
to-day,  only  10  wounded  and  none  killed.  The  pride  of  the 
regiment,  Frank  Lermond,  had  his  arm  broken  by  a  ball, 
but  a  resection  operation  will  leave  him  a  tolerably  good 
arm.  I  think  this  has  been  as  exciting  and  lively  a  p.  m. 
as  ever  I  saw.  Terry's  24th  Army  Corps  has  come  up, 
and  lays  about  six  miles  back  of  us  to-night. 

Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  22,  1865. 

The  enemy  left  about  2  a.  m.  Our  brigade  was  ordered 
to  follow  them  to  Mill  creek,  about  three  miles,  which  we 
did  almost  on  the  double  quick,  the  26th  Illinois  in  ad- 
vance pushing  their  rear  guard.  The  brigade  went  to 
"Mill  creek,  but  our  skirmishers  went  a  mile  further,  to 
Hannah's  creek.  The  26th  had  seven  wounded.  I  saw 
in  one  place  a  dead  Rebel  and  one  of  our  men  burned 
horribly.  The  woods  have  all  been  burned  over  here.  In 
another  place  a  dead  Rebel  and  one  of  our  men  with  his 
foot  cut  half  off,  one  of  his  toes  cut  off,  several  more  cuts 
on  his  body,  and  a  bullet  hole  in  his  temple.  Some  of  the 
boys  saw  one  of  our  men  with  leg  cut  off  in  five  places. 
Some  surgeon  had  probably  been  practicing  on  the  last 
two  men. 

They  were  I4th  Corps  men.  Sherman  again  says  the 
campaign  is  over,  that  he  only  came  out  here  to  show 
Johnston  that  he  is  ready  to  fight  all  the  time.  We  start 
back  for  Goldsboro  (24  miles),  to-morrow.  Hurrah  for 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  367 

mail  and  clean  clothes.  Colonel  and  I  occupy  the  outside 
of  a  house  to-night,  in  the  inside  of  which  is  a  Chinese-eyed 
girl  with  a  Creole  mouth.  She  is  as  intelligent  as  a  door 
post.  You  don't  know  how  anxious  I  am  to  hear  from  you. 
I  have  had  a  reply  to  but  one  letter  that  I  have  written 
since  last  November  (i5th).  Our  little  supper  is  now 
ready.  Don't  see  how  we  will  get  along  without  Frank. 

Goldsboro,  N.  C,  March  25,  1865. 

We  were  two  days  coming  back  from  Bentonville.  Have  a 
nice  camp  ground  and  will  enjoy  ourselves,  I  think.  Town 
don't  amount  to  anything. 

On  picket,  Raleigh  road,  three  miles  from  Nahanta  Station,  on 
Weldon  and  Goldsboro  Railroad, 

April  10,  1865. 

Our  division  moved  north  to-day  along  the  Weldon  rail- 
road to  Nahanta,  where  we  crossed  and  took  a  main  Raleigh 
road.  Our  ist  brigade  had  the  advance  and  had  light  skirm- 
ishing all  day.  Wheeler's  cavalry  is  opposing  us.  Our  regi- 
ment is  on  picket  to-night,  and  the  enemy  shot  a  little  at  us 
before  dark,  but  all  is  quiet  just  now.  Passed  through  a  very 
fine  country  to-day.  It  has  rained  all  day.  Some  cannonad- 
ing on  our  left.  I  think  the  whole  army  moved  to-day.  The 
2Oth  corps  passed  us  near  town  this  morning  in  exactly  op- 
posite direction  to  ours.  The  whole  army,  mules,  wagons,  bum- 
mers and  generals  have  come  out  new  from  Goldsboro.  The 
whole  machine  looks  as  nicely  as  an  army  can  look.  Our  ist 
brigade  took  a  swamp  crossing  from  the  enemy  to-day,  that 
our  brigade  could  hold  against  a  corps.  A  bullet  passed  mis- 
erably near  to  me  as  I  was  arranging  our  picket  line  this 
evening. 

Beulah,  N.  C.,  April  n,  1865,  12  m. 

Our  division  is  alone  on  this  road  I  find,  and  the  extreme 
right  of  the  army.  Our  brigade  ahead  to-day.  DibbrelFs  di 
vision  of  Wheeler's  men  is  ahead  of  us.  We  pushed  them  so 


3OO  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

closely  that  we  saved  all  the  bridges  to  this  place.  They  de- 
stroyed the  bridge  here  some  way  without  burning  it.  Country 
to-day  nearly  all  under  cultivation,  but  no  large  farms.  I 
reckon  that  the  larger  a  farm  a  man  has  of  this  kind  of  land 
or  sand  the  poorer  he  is.  Our  eyes  were  rested  by  seeing  a 
little  clay  hill  and  a  stony  field,  signs  that  we  are  again  getting 
out  of  the  coast  flats.  There  was  a  house  on  our  picket  line 
last  night  with  six  women  in  it  who  were  sights.  They  were 
the  regular  "clay-eaters."  This  Rebel  cavalry  ahead  don't 
amount  to  a  cent.  They  have  not  yet  hurt  a  man  on  our  road, 
and  we  don't  know  that  more  than  two  of  them  have  been 
hit.  They  keep  shooting  all  the  time,  but  are  afraid  to 
wait  until  we  get  within  range  of  them.  They  have  not  hind- 
ered our  march  a  minute.  Got  me  a  new  servant  (a  free  boy) 
to-day.  Both  his  grandmas  were  white  women.  He  says  the 
Rebel  cavalry  have  been  impressing  all  the  able-bodied  ne- 
groes for  the  army  until  within  a  few  days.  He  understands 
they  quit  it  because  they  found  out  in  Richmond  that  they 
couldn't  make  "Cuffie"  come  up  to  the  work. 

Eight  miles  North  of  Smithfield,  4:30  p.  m. 
Crossed  the  river  as  quick  as  the  bridge  could  be  built  and 
moved  out  three  miles.  The  rest  of  our  corps  crossed  two 
and  one-half  miles  below.  Country  is  quite  rolling  here.  I 
hear  that  Johnston  has  left  Smithfield,  going  towards  Raleigh. 
Miserable  set  of  citizens  through  here. 

April  12,  1865,  10  a.  m. 

We  hear  this  a.  m.  that  Lee  has  surrendered  to  Grant  the 
army  of  northern  Virginia.  It  created  a  great  deal  of  enthu- 
siasm among  us.  It  is  hard  to  make  our  men  believe  any- 
thing, but  Logan  told  us  half  an  hour  ago  as  he  passed  it  is 
true  as  gospel.  We  have  passed  a  large  infantry  camp  that  the 
Rebels  left  yesterday.  Johnston  is  moving  towards  Raleigh. 
Our  division  has  the  advance  to-day.  We  consolidated  the 
regiment  for  the  campaign  into  five  companies. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  369 

Left  bank  of  Neuse  River,  20  miles  East  of  Raleigh, 

April  12,  1865,  4  p.  m. 

Twelve  miles  to-day.  Our  cavalry  pushed  ahead  and  drove 
the  Rebels  past  here  at  8  a.  m.  Saw  a  barn  and  cotton  press 
in  flames  to-day.  There  has  been  no  burning  this  trip  worth 
mentioning.  This  to-day  was  all  I  have  seen  and  it  was  to 
destroy  the  cotton.  Poor  country  to-day,  but  one  very  nice 
country  place ;  the  house  4th  rate,  but  the  grounds  and  shrub- 
bery finer  than  any  in  our  part  of  Illinois. 

This  is  an  army  of  skeptics,  they  won't  believe  in  Lee's  sur- 
render. I  do,  and  I  tell  you  it  makes  this  one  of  my  brightest 
days.  His  surrender  makes  sure  beyond  any  chance  that  what 
we  have  been  fighting  for  for  four  years  is  sure.  Look  for 
me  July  4th,  1865.  [This  promise  was  kept.  Ed.] 

Four  miles  from  Raleigh,  April  13,  1865,  4  p.  m. 
The  fourth  anniversary  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter.  How 
are  you,  chivalry?  Made  a  nice  little  march  of  16  miles  and 
could  go  on  to  town  as  well  as  not  before  dark  if  it  was  ne- 
cessary. Our  left  wing  occupied  Raleigh  this  morning  with 
Kilpatrick  and  the  I4th  A.  C.  No  fighting  worth  mentioning. 
We  crossed  the  Neuse  six  miles  from  Raleigh  on  the  paper 
mill  bridge.  This  is  the  prettiest  campaign  we  ever  made.  No 
night  marching,  60  miles  in  four  days,  and  just  what  rations 
we  started  with  from  Goldsboro  in  haversacks.  Beautiful 
country  to-day,  high  and  rolling.  The  bummers  found  whisky 
to-day  and  I  saw  a  number  dead  drunk  by  the  roadside.  They 
found  an  ice  house  and  to-night  we  have  ice  water.  Picked 
up  a  number  of  Rebel  deserters  .to-day.  The  woods  are  full 
of  them. 

Raleigh,  N.  C.,  April  14,  1865,  I  p.  m. 
We  passed  through  town  and  were  reviewed  by  Sherman, 
who  stood  at  the  south  gate  of  the  State  Capitol  grounds. 
Just  as  Colonel  Wright  saluted,  his  horse  turned  his  heels  to- 
wards Sherman  and  did  some  of  the  finest  kicking  that  ever 


3/O  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

was  seen.  It  was  most  amusing.  Raleigh  is  a  fine  old  town. 
Many  beautiful  residences,  and  the  gardens  filled  with  the 
choicest  shrubbery. 

The  1 4th  A.  C.  guards  the  place.  Wheeler's  men  sacked  it. 
Division  hearquarters  received  orders  to  save  their  rations. 
What  we  have  is  to  last  30  days  and  maybe  40  days.  That 
means  a  long  march,  though  it  is  hinted  that  we  do  not  follow 
Johnston.  Some  think  we  are  going  into  East  Tennessee. 
The  citizens  of  Raleigh  generally  come  to  their  gates  to  look 
at  us,  but  make  no  demonstrations  that  I  have  heard  of.  The 
1 4th  A.  C.  is  protecting  them  in  all  their  rights.  Not  a  thing 
disturbed. 

High  rolling  country  and  large  farms.  The  town  is  fortified 
all  around,  but  works  were  old.  I  never  saw  so  few  negroes 
in  a  Southern  city.  Our  headquarter's  foragers  brought  in 
five  Rebel  deserters  to-night,  and  five  dozen  eggs  which  I 
think  were  the  most  valuable. 

Raleigh,  April  15,  1865. 

To-day  makes  four  years  soldiering  for  me.  It  is  a  terrible 
waste  of  time  for  me  who  have  to  make  a  start  in  life  yet,  and 
I  expect  unfits  me  for  civil  life.  I  have  almost  a  dread  of 
being  a  citizen,  of  trying  to  be  sharp,  and  trying  to  make 
money.  I  don't  think  I  dread  the  work.  I  don't  remember 
of  shirking  any  work  I  ever  attempted,  but  I  am  sure  that 
civil  life  will  go  sorely  against  the  grain  for  a  time.  Citizens 
are  not  like  soldiers,  and  I  like  soldier  ways  much  the  best. 
We  were  to  have  moved  out  this  morning  but  did  not.  Logan 
went  out  with  our  4th  division,  report  says,  to  confer  with 
Johnston.  Big  rumors  going  that  our  campaign  is  over,  and 
that  Johnston's  men  are  going  home.  We  have  been  having 
heavy  showers  during  the  day,  but  the  boys  feel  so  good  over 
the  prospect  ahead  that  they  raise  the  most  tremendous  cheers 
right  in  the  midst  of  the  hardest  rains.  We  think  Johnston 
is  in  as  tight  a  place  as  Lee  was,  and  if  he  don't  surrender  we 
will  go  for  him  in  a  way  that  will  astonish  him.  We  con- 
sider our  cause  gained  and  are  searching  each  other's  records 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  3/1 

to  see  who  was  ever  doubtful  of  success.  I  don't  remember 
at  any  time  of  being  despondent  over  the  war  or  being  doubt- 
ful of  the  issue.  Was  I?  I  did  think  the  war  might  last  for 
years  yet,  but  take  that  back.  I  have  not  been  in  town  since 
we  came  through,  and  think  no  one  from  the  brigade  has. 
Curiosity  over  captured  cities  is  "old." 

Raleigh,  April  16,  1865. 

Flags  of  truce  are  still  flying  between  Sherman  and  John- 
ston. The  latter  is,  I  believe,  some  30  miles  west  of  Hillsboro. 
Some  of  Sherman's  staff  went  out  last  night  to  offer  the  same 
terms  that  were  offered  to  Lee,  and  are  expected  every  hour 
with  Johnston's  answer.  Everybody  thinks  Johnston  will  ac- 
cept and  many  are  offering  to  bet  their  all  that  we  will  be 
mustered  out  by  July  4th,  1865. 

I  am  trying  to  take  the  matter  coolly  and  determined  not  to 
be  very  much  disappointed  if  the  result  is  different  from  what 
we  all  hope.  We  will  be  either  ready  to  march  to-morrow 
morning  or  to  hang  our  swords  on  the  wall.  Hundreds  of 
Johnston's  men  are  coming  into  our  lines.  If  he  don't  surren- 
der his  men  will  all  desert.  A  lovely  day.  Disposes  one  to 
peace  wonderfully.  It  is  most  difficult  to  realize  that  our  war 
is  over.  I  do  from  my  heart  thank  God  that  I  have  lived  to 
see  the  rebellion  put  down.  Anyone  who  has  been  with  us 
the  last  year  and  is  alive  should  be  thankful.  The  whole  four 
years  seems  to  me  more  like  a  dream  than  reality.  How 
anxious  I  am  to  shake  hands  with  you  all  once  more.  "How 
are  you  peace?" 

Raleigh,  April  17,  1865. 

We  have  a  brief  dispatch  this  morning  informing  us  of  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  Secretary  Seward  and  son. 
I  have  not  the  heart  to  write  a  word  about  it.  The  army  is 
crazy  for  vengenance.  If  we  make  another  campaign  it  will 
be  an  awful  one.  Sherman  meets  Johnston  to-day.  The  delay 
in  the  negotiations  was  caused  by  some  dispatches  being 
missed.  We  hope  Johnston  will  not  surrender.  God  pity 
this  country  if  he  retreats  or  fights  us. 

24 


372  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Raleigh,  April  18,   1865. 

Sherman  has  gone  out  again  to  see  Johnston.  Johnston 
asked  for  another  day  in  order  to  see  Davis  and  get  his  per- 
mission to  surrender  the  whole  force  in  arms  this  side  of  the 
Mississippi.  I  was  through  the  town  to-day.  Some  very  fine 
residences  and  asylums,  but  the  town  is  no  larger  than  Canton, 
and  not  as  pretty  except  in  shrubbery  and  shade  trees. 

I  visited  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  and  Blind  Asylums  and  the 
superintendent  put  a  class  in  each  through  some  exercises.  It 
was  very  interesting.  A  Herald  of  the  loth  gives  us  the  par- 
ticulars of  Lee's  surrender.  Grant  is  the  hero  of  the  war. 
The  papers  all  talk  about  Grant,  Sherman  and  Sheridan,  noth- 
ing said  about  Thomas.  This  whole  army  thinks  that 
Thomas  is  slighted  by  the  North.  We  have  as  much  con- 
fidence in  him  as  in  Grant  or  Sherman,  and  then  he  never 
writes  any  letters  or  accepts  valuable  presents,  or  figures 
in  any  way  for  citizen  approbation,  or  that  of  his  army. 
The  only  objection  that  I  ever  heard  against  him  is  the 
size  of  his  headquarters  or  "Thomasville"  as  it  is  called 
by  the  army.  That  comes  from  his  West-Pointism. 

Raleigh,  April  19,  1865. 

Joe  Johnston  surrendered  the  whole  thing  yesterday  to 
Sherman.  Our  4th  division  and  a  division  of  the  I7th 
Corps  receive  the  arms,  etc.  We  go  into  a  regular  camp  to- 
morrow to  await  developments.  If  any  more  Confederacy 
crops  out,  we,  I  suppose,  will  go  for  it,  otherwise  in  a 
couple  of  months  we'll  muster  out.  That's  all.  Good  bye, 
war. 

Our  last  march.     Near  Rolesville,  N.  C, 

April  29,  1865. 

Left  Raleigh  at  7  this  morning  on  my  way  home,  via 
Richmond  and  Washington.  Made  about  n  miles. 
Rather  too  warm  for  such  fast  marching  as  we  always  do. 
If  we  would  just  make  15  miles  a  day,  say  10  of  it  between 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  373 

sunrise  and  10  a.  m.,  and  the  remainder  after  2  p.  m.,  it 
would  not  hurt  a  man  or  an  animal,  but  we  move  when  we 
do  move  at  three  or  three  and  a  half  miles  an  hour,  and  not 
all  even  Sherman's  men  can  stand  it  in  as  warm  weather 
as  this.  I  saw  a  number  laid  out  this  morning  by  the  road- 
side looking  as  if  they  had  been  boiled.  The  50  pounds  of 
equipments  is  what  uses  them  up.  Well  settled  country, 
and  it  looks  beautiful.  The  leaves  are  all  out  nearly  full 
size ;  fine  oak,  elm  and  pine  strips  of  woodland  between 
farms  is  such  an  addition  of  comfort  to  citizens  and  cattle, 
and  of  beauty  to  scenery.  The  undergrowth  is  mostly  dog- 
wood and  holly.  We  are  on  our  good  behavior  this  trip. 
No  foraging,  no  bumming  rails,  or  houses,  and  nothing 
naughty  whatever.  We  have  the  best  set  of  men  in  the 

world.    When  it  is  in  order  to  raise  h they  have  no  equals 

in  destructiveness  and  ability  to  hate  and  worry,  or  su- 
periors as  to  fighting  Rebels,  but  now  they  have  none, 
and  they  are  perfect  lambs.  Not  a  hand  laid  on  a  rail  this 
evening  with  intent  to  burn,  not  a  motion  toward  a 
chicken  or  smoke-house,  not  a  thing  in  their  actions  that 
even  a  Havelock  would  object  to.  They  don't  pretend  to 
love  our  "erring  brethren"  yet,  but  no  conquered  foe  could 
ask  kinder  treatment  than  all  our  men  seem  disposed  to 
give  these  Rebels.  We  camped  about  3  p.  m.  in  a  pretty 
piece  of  woods.  Artillery  has  been  booming  all  day  at 
Raleigh. 

Sunday,  April  30,  1865. 

Howardism  (and  it  is  a  very  good  kind  of  ism),  allows 
us  to  lay  still  to-day.  It  is  a  real  Canton  ist  of  June  Sab- 
bath. It  rained  all  night,  but  the  effect  is  to  improve  these 
sandy  roads.  It  will  take  a  good  deal  more  than  a  week 
to  realize  fully  that  the  war  is  over.  No  more  preparation 
for  a  coming  campaign,  dreaded  at  first,  but  soon  looked 
for  with  feverish  eagerness  (human  nature).  No  more 
finding  the  enemy  driving  in  his  skirmishers,  developing 
his  line,  getting  into  position,  and  retiring  every  night, 


374  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

maybe  for  a  month,  after  days  spent  in  continuous  skirm- 
ishing, expecting  to  be  ordered  to  charge  at  daybreak.  It 
is  all  over,  thank  God,  but  it  seems  impossible. 

A  Philadelphia  paper  of  the  25th  (first  we  have  seen 
since  the  2ist)  astonished  us  all.  It  gives  us  our  first  inti- 
mation of  the  hue  and  cry  against  Sherman,  for  the  terms 
he  offered  Johnston,  Breckenridge  &  Co.  We  did  not 
before  know  anything  he  had  done,  only  he  told  us  in 
orders  that  he  had,  "subject  to  the  approval  of  the  powers 
at  Washington,  made  peace  from  the  Rio  Grande  to  the 
Potomac,  by  an  agreement  with  Johnston  and  other 
high  officials/'  •  We  have  only  known  that  much,  talked 
over  the  matter  and  were  afraid  that  "Tecumseh"  had 
made  an  attempt  to  do  too  much,  and  had  compromised 
himself  by  having  anything  at  all  to  do  with  other  than 
military  Rebels.  I  am  very  sorry  for  him,  but  we  have 
thought  for  a  year,  and  it  has  been  common  talk  in  the 
army,  that  he  was  ambitious  for  political  honors,  etc. 

I  have  often  heard  it  said  that  he  was  figuring  for  popu- 
larity in  the  South.  He  has  written  some  very  pretty  let- 
ters to  our  erring  Southerners.  Instance,  the  one  to  the 
Mayor  and  citizens  of  Atlanta  and  one  to  Mrs.  Bowen  of 
Baltimore,  and  several  more  while  at  Savannah. 

He  also  promised  Governor  Vance  some  kind  of  pro- 
tection if  he  would  return  to  Raleigh.  "Pap"  must  be  care- 
ful. We  all  think  the  world  of  him.  I'd  rather  fight  under 
him  than  Grant,  and  in  fact  if  Sherman  was  Mahomet  we'd 
be  as  devoted  Musselmen  as  ever  followed  the  former 
prophet,  and  if  he  has  blundered  here,  as  they  say  he  has, 
we  will  feel  it  more  at  heart  than  we  ever  did  the  fall  of 
our  leaders  before.  I  won't  believe  he  has  made  a  mis- 
take until  I  know  all  about  it.  It  can't  be. 

Near  Davis'  Cross  Roads,  five  miles  north  of  Tar  river. 

May  i,  1865,  4:30  p.  m. 

We  are  35  miles  from  Raleigh  to-night,  which  makes  24 
miles  to-day  over  Tar  river,  which  is  here  about  50  yards 
wide  and  runs  through  a  fine  rolling,  high  country.  The 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  375 

march  was  splendidly  conducted,  no  straggling,  and  the  peace 
orders  were  faithfully  lived  up  to.  It  seems  like  the  early 
days  of  my  soldiering  to  see  the  citizens  all  at  home,  their 
horses  and  mules  in  the  stables,  and  gardens  full  of  vegetables 
passed  untouched.  When  a  man  can  pass  an  onion  bed  with- 
out going  for  them,  and  they  did  a  number  of  them  to-day,  no 
one  need  talk  to  me  of  total  depravity.  The  soldier  goes 
more  on  onions  than  any  other  luxury.  The  citizens  have  all 
"war's  over"  news,  and  seem  to  feel  good  over  it.  At  three 
different  places  there  were  groups  of  very  healthy  looking 
young  ladies,  well  dressed,  by  the  roadside,  waving  their  hand- 
kerchiefs at  us,  and  one  told  the  boys  she  wished  them  to  come 
back  after  they  were  mustered  out,  for  "you  have  killed  all  our 
young  men  off."  The  virtuous  indignation  welled  up  in  my 
bosom  like  a  new  strike  of  oil.  I'll  venture  that  these  same 
women  coaxed  their  beaux  off  to  the  war,  and  now  that 
"Yank"  is  ahead,  they  shake  their  handkerchiefs  at  us  and 
cry,  "bully  Yanks."  The  devil  take  them  and  he'll  be  sure 
to  do  it.  You  have  heard  of  woodticks?  The  man  who  don't 
catch  his  pint  a  day  is  in  awful  luck.  They  have  a  tick  pick- 
ing twice  a  day  in  this  country,  regularly  as  eating.  Saw  a 
wild  turnip  in  bloom  to-day. 

Two  miles  north  of  Shady  Grove,  N.  C, 

May  2,  1865. 

Twenty-six  miles  to-day,  and  everything  in  camp  at  sun- 
set. That  is  No.  i  work  with  300  sets  of  wheels  to  the  divi- 
sion. We  have  reveille  at  3  a.  m.  and  start  at  4  now. 

We  seem  to  have  got  pretty  well  out  of  the  pine  country. 
Hardly  saw  one  the  last  three  miles  this  p.  m.  Have  also 
about  left  cotton  behind  us.  Tobacco  and  wheat  are  the 
staples  here.  I  saw  as  many  as  five  large  tobacco  houses  on 
one  farm,  built  25  logs  high.  Notice  also  some  very  fine  wheat 
growing,  now  12  inches  high.  Very  large  peach  and  apple 
orchards  on  almost  every  farm.  The  trees  look  thrifty,  but 
show  neglect.  All  kinds  of  fruit  promises  to  be  abundant  this 
year. 


37  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

The  last  five  miles  to-day  was  through  beautiful  country, 
fine  houses,  too.  The  people  were  all  out  to  see  us,  but  I  am 
glad  that  I  have  no  demonstration  a  la  white  handkerchief  to 
chronicle.  The  men  are  full  of  the  de'il  to-day.  Scaring 
negroes  almost  out  of  their  wits.  Our  division  is  the  right  of 
the  army.  We  have  been  side  tracking  so  far,  but  to-morrow 
we  get  the  main  road  and  Corse  takes  the  cow  paths.  I  think 
that  not  more  than  one-fifth  of  the  cleared  land  so  far  in  this 
State  is  under  cultivation  this  year,  and  that  fully  one-fourth 
of  all  has  been  turned  over  to  nature  for  refertilization  from 
four  to  forty  years.  On  some  of  this  turned  out  land  the  new 
growth  is  more  than  a  foot  in  diameter.  I  saw  a  sassafras 
tree  to-day  that  was  15  inches  in  diameter. 

Right  Bank  Roanoke  river,  Robbin's  Ferry,  N.  C. 

May  3,  1865. 

About  20  miles  to-day  and  the  latter  fourth  quite  dusty. 
We  did  not  get  the  main  road,  and  have  depended  mainly  on 
hog  paths.  The  Roanoke  is  the  largest  stream  we  have  crossed 
since  leaving  the  Tennessee  river,  and  is  quite  swift.  The 
water  is  also  colder  than  any  we  have  found  this  march.  We 
have  not  pontoons  enough  to  reach  across  and  will  have  to 
press  ferryboats  and  skiffs,  etc.,  to  use  as  pontoons.  Presume 
it  will  take  all  night  to  get  up  a  bridge.  We  pontooned  the 
Neuse  when  we  crossed  it  the  last  time  in  one  and  one-half 
hours.  As  we  crossed  the  Raleigh  and  Gorton  Railroad  to- 
day, saw  a  train  of  cars  coming  kiting  along.  Expect  com- 
munication is  open  to  Raleigh  by  this  time.  We  are  march- 
ing too  hard.  It  is  using  up  lots  of  men.  Good  country  to- 
day. Many  fine  houses  and  every  indication  of  wealth. 

Thirteen  miles  south  of  Laurenceville,  Va., 

May  4,  1865. 

Our  regiment  in  advance  of  the  division  crossed  the  Ro- 
anoke at  3  :3O  p.  m.  and  went  into  camp  here  at  sunset,  mak- 
ing 13  miles.  We  crossed  the  N.  C.  and  Va.  line  about  three 
miles  this  side  of  the  river.  Good  country,  and  people  all  out 
gazing. 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  377 

Near  Nottaway  River,  May  5,  1865. 

Crossed  the  Meherrin  river  (a  Copperas  creek  affair)  this 
morning  and  pass  through  Laurenceburg,  a  loo-year  old  town, 
just  as  large  as  the  top  of  a  very  small  hill  would  hold.  Such 
oceans  of  negroes;  never  saw  half  as  many  before  in  the 
same  distance  in  Virginia.  Sheridan  was  through  this  country 
ten  days  ago,  but  hearing  that  Johnston  had  surrendered  he 
turned  back.  Kautz  and  Wilson  were  also  raiding  last  sum- 
mer, but  there  are  no  signs  that  war  is  known  to  the  people  by 
experience.  We  see  Lee's  and  Johnston's  men  all  along  the 
road,  taking  a  look  at  Sherman's  army.  All  the  soldiers  and 
citizens  we  see  seem  to  submit  to  the  Government,  and  the 
war  feeling  is  dead  among  them,  but  there  is  no  love  for  us 
or  ours,  and  they  regard  us  only  as  subjugators.  That  is  as 
warm  a  sentiment  as  I  ask  from  them.  I  believe  every  family 
has  lost  a  member  by  the  war.  I  saw  a  member  of  Pickett's 
Rebel  division  this  evening.  He  said  that  when  his  division 
surrendered  to  Grant,  they  stacked  but  45  muskets.  It  was 
nearly  10,000  strong  on  the  24th  of  March,  1865. 

This  boy  put  in  one  of  the  45  muskets.  They  all  give 
Sheridan's  cavalry  the  credit  for  doing  the  best  fighting  they 
ever  knew  "Yanks"  to  do. 

They  all  speak  highly  of  our  6th  (Wright's)  corps.  The 
good  conduct  of  our  men  continues  even  to  the  astonishment 
of  the  men  themselves.  I  have  heard  of  but  one  indiscretion, 
and  that  was  only  the  carrying  off  of  the  table  cutlery  after 
dining  with  a  citizen.  We  are  traveling  too  fast,  but  our 
corps  commanders  are  racing  to  see  who  will  make  Petersburg 
first.  Heard  of  Booth  being  killed  to-day.  Also  got  a  Herald 
of  the  24th  with  Sherman  and  Johnston's  peace  propositions. 
We  are  very  much  shocked  at  Sherman's  course.  I  have  not 
heard  an  officer  or  soldier  who  had  read  them,  sustain  our 
general.  It  is  hard  on  us  and  we  regret  his  action  as  much  as 
any  calamity  of  the  war,  excepting  the  Washington  horror. 
There  isn't  an  element  of  man  worship  in  this  army,  but  we 
all  had  such  confidence  in  Sherman,  and  thought  it  almost  im- 


37  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

possible  for  him  to  make  a  mistake.  The  army  is  very  sore 
over  the  affair.  We  can't  bear  to  have  anybody  say  a  word 
against  Sherman,  but  he  did  act  very  strangely  in  this 
thing. 

Left  bank  of  Stony  Creek,  Va.,  20  miles  from 
Pittsburg, 

May  6,  1865. 

About  20  good  miles  to-day.  No  sign  of  war  yet.  Have 
not  had  a  very  good  road  to-day.  Crossed  the  Nottaway 
river  this  morning.  Small  affair.  During  Kautz  and  Wilson's 
disastrous  raid  last  summer  they  threw  their  last  piece  of 
artillery  into  the  Nottaway  from  the  bridge  on  which  we 
crossed.  One  of  the  officers  says  he  noticed  bullet  marks 
on  trees  that  indicated  a  pretty  sharp  skirmish  having 
taken  place  where  we  stopped  for  dinner.  We  are  fairly 
on  classic  ground.  I  hear  that  the  I7th  A.  C.  lost  a  number 
of  men  yesterday  by  a  bridge  falling. 

Petersburg,  Va.,  May  7,  1865. 

Twenty  miles  to-day,  and  the  longest  kind  of  miles.  Had 
some  bad  road  in  the  morning.  We  struck  the  Weldon  rail- 
road two  or  three  miles  below  Ream's  Station,  where  the 
6th  Corps  was  whipped  last  June,  and  came  right  up  to 
the  city.  Saw  hardly  any  signs  of  fighting  the  whole  way. 
Ours  and  the  Rebel  works  where  we  came  through  are 
fully  two  and  one  half  miles  apart,  and  the  skirmish  line 
further  from  each  other  than  we  ever  had  ours  when  we 
pretended  to  be  near  the  enemy.  I  think  the  whole  army 
is  up.  Part  of  it  got  here  last  night.  We  lie  here  to- 
morrow. The  I7th  A.  C.  goes  on  to  Richmond. 

Petersburg,  Va.,  May  8,  1865. 

I'll  take  back  all  I  ever  said  against  the  Potomac  Army. 
I  have  been  down  to  Fort  Steadman  to-day  and  troops  who 
will  work  up  to  an  enemy  as  they  did  there,  will  do  any- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  379 

thing  if  handled  right.  There  were  some  sad  sights  along 
that  part  of  the  line.  Right  in  front  of  Steadman  40  or 
50  of  our  men  are  lying  with  only  a  few  shovelfuls  of  dirt 
thrown  over  them,  their  heads  and  feet  exposed.  I  passed 
through  the  Rebel  burying  ground,  quite  a  large  and 
thickly  settled  village.  Poor  fellows.  I  wish  the  leaders 
who  led  or  rather  pushed  them  into  these  little  clay  hills 
were  all  beside  them.  This  is  a  nice  town,  not  very  pretty 
though.  Good  deal  of  business  done.  Hundreds  of  Rebel 
officers,  Lieutenant  General  Gordon  among  them,  walk  the 
streets  in  full  uniform. 

Drury's  Bluff,  Va.,  May  9,  1865. 

We  were  reviewed  by  Howard,  Logan  and  Hartsuff  this 
morning  as  we  passed  through  Petersburg.  We  lie  to- 
night along  the  outer  line  of  Drury's  Bluff  defenses  which 
Butler  took  a  year  ago  this  month.  Signs  of  a  good  deal 
of  fighting;  good  many  roads,  etc.  The  James  river  is 
about  one  mile  to  our  right.  I  have  been  to  some  very 
fine  forts.  Fort  Wagner  and  Fort  Stevens  (or  Stephens) 
are  the  best,  on  the  second  and  main  line  of  Rebel  works, 
which  Butler  was  working  against  when  the  Rebels  came 
out  and  whipped  him.  From  one  fort  I  saw  the  spires 
of  Richmond,  James  river  and  Shipping,  Fort  Darling  and 
Fort  Harrison.  Coming  back  toward  camp  we  found  one 
of  our  soldiers  unburied  in  the  bushes.  His  skull  was 
brought  in  by  our  hospital  steward. 

Manchester,  Va.,  May  10,  1865. 

The  rain  yesterday  made  the  road,  which  is  a  splendid 
one  fifty  yards  wide,  just  right  for  traveling.  We  passed 
through  three  lines  of  Drury's  Bluff  and  Fort  Darling 
defenses,  and  are  now  at  the  second  and  inside  line  of 
works  for  the  defense  of  Richmond.  Hostile  Yankees 
never  saw  either  of  these  two  lines  at  this  point,  or  any 
other,  I  guess,  this  side  of  the  James  River.  It  is  about 


380  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

22  miles  from  Richmond  to  Petersburg.  "Old  Brains" 
(Halleck)  issued  his  proclamation  that  no  soldier  or  officer 
of  this  army  should  enter  Richmond  only  when  we  pass 
through.  Howard  and  Logan  say  they  will  pass  around  if 
they  can.  I  hope  they  will. 

We  have  a  fine  view  of  Richmond  from  here.  It  is  situated 
much  like  Peoria  and  Columbia,  S.  C.  The  burned  district  shows 
very  plainly  from  here  and  makes  the  resemblance  to  Columbia 
very  striking.  Several  thousand  men  and  officers  of  the  corps 
made  a  raid  on  Logan  last  night  and  got  a  little  talk  from  him. 
He  was  very  careful  not  to  say  too  much,  all  small  talk.  This 
got  up  a  real  elephant  hunting  mania,  and  I  guess  every  regi- 
ment commanded  in  the  corps  was  called  out.  Colonel  Wright 
had  to  make  a  little  talk.  The  I4th  and  2Oth  move  out  to- 
morrow. 

May  n,  1865. 

The  I4th  and  2Oth  crossed  the  river  and  went  as  far  as  Han- 
over to-day. 

May  12,  1865. 

The  i /th  Corps  has  the  road  to-day.  Heavy  thunder  storm 
last  night  with  a  great  deal  of  rain.  Four  men  of  our  division 
were  killed  by  lightning  about  200  yards  from  our  tent.  One 
of  them,  William  Hall,  belonged  to  Company  D  of  our  regi- 
ment. Two  men  were  killed  in  a  tent  in  which  were  15,  and 
of  the  four  lying  side  by  side,  two  were  killed. 

Can't  hear  yet  for  certain  when  we  will  be  mustered  out. 
We  move  towards  Alexandria  to-morrow. 

North  Bank  of  Chickahominy  River, 

May  13,  1865. 

We  crossed  the  James  river  this  a.  m.  Our  division,  the 
rear  of  the  corps,  paraded  a  little  around  Richmond,  saw  Libby 
Prison,  Castle  Thunder,  the  bronze  statue  of  Washington, 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  381 

Lee's  and  Davis'  residence,  and  a  number  of  women.  Some 
handkerchiefs  flying.  Two  women  told  us  they  were  Yankees 
and  looked  so  sweet  that  I  (in  theory)  lifted  my  hat  to  them. 
It  always  puts  me  out  of  humor  to  see  Southern  women  cheer 
Yanks  in  public.  We  passed  through  the  Rebel  works  where 
Kilpatrick  made  his  bold  dash  in  March,  '64.  We  are  six  or 
seven  miles  above  Mechanicsville,  and  McClellan's  old  battle 
ground. 

Near  Hanover,  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  14,  1865. 
Only  made  nine  miles  to-day  on  account  of  the  Pamunky 
river  here  being  bad.  We  camp  to-night  in  the  Hanover 
"slashes,"  one  mile  east  of  the  birthplace  of  Henry  Clay,  and 
about  two  miles  from  the  residence  of  Patrick  Henry.  The 
court  house  is  where  the  latter  delivered  his  famous  speech 
against  the  clergy.  Henry's  house  is  built  of  brick,  imported, 
and  was  built  in  1776.  We  passed  the  place  where  McClellan's 
famous  seven  days'  fight  commenced.  The  whole  country  is 
waste.  I  hear  a  country  legend  here  that  Clay  was  the  ille- 
gitimate son  of  Patrick  Henry.  The  court  house  was  built  in 
1735- 

South  of  Bowling  Green,  Va.,  May  15,  1865. 

Crossed  the  Pamunky  river  this  morning  and  the  Mattapony 
this  p.  m.  Beautiful  country,  but  most  desolate  looking. 
Stopped  at  a  house  for  the  "cute  and  original"  purpose  of  ask- 
ing for  a  drink  of  water.  While  a  servant  went  to  the  spring 
had  a  very  interesting  chat  with  the  ladies,  the  first  of  the  sex 
I  have  spoken  to  in  Virginia.  One  of  them  was  quite  pleasant. 
She  inquired  if  we  Yankees  were  really  all  going  to  Mexico. 
Told  her  "such  was  the  case,"  when  she  remarked,  "Well,  all 
our  men  are  killed  off,  and  if  all  you  Northerners  go  to  Mex- 
ico, we  women  will  have  our  rights  sure." 

Heard  of  Davis'  capture.     Did  not  excite  an  emotion. 


382  ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER. 

Five  miles  south  of  Fredericksburg,  May  16,  1865. 
Our  division  and  brigade  in  advance  of  corps  to-day.  Made 
24  miles  by  2  p.  m.  Fences  all  gone  on  the  road,  but  houses  all 
standing.  From  a  bluff  three  miles  back  had  a  beautiful  view 
of  about  15  miles  of  the  Rappahannock  valley  and  in  all  that 
did  not  see  a  fence  or  a  cultivated  field,  or  a  specimen  of  either 
the  kine,  sheep,  or  swine  families.  This  certainly  does  not 
largely  rank  the  Sahara.  Passed  through  a  melancholy  look- 
ing line  of  rifle  pits,  and  mentally  thanked  Heaven  for  my  poor 
prospect  of  ever  using  the  like  again.  Passed  through  Bowl- 
ing Green  this  a.  m.,  only  u  miles  from  where  Booth  was 
killed. 

Aquia  Creek,  Va.,  May  17,  1865. 

We  passed  over  the  whole  line  of  Burnside's  battle  ground 
this  morning.  (It  was  no  fight,  only  a  Yankee  slaughter.) 
Through  Fredericksburg,  the  most  shelled  town  I  ever  saw; 
crossed  the  Rappahannock  on  a  miserable  shaky  pontoon,  and 
have  been  traveling  ever  since  in  the  camps  of  the  Potomac 
Army.  Desolation  reigns  equal  to  the  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
country. 

Country  much  more  broken  than  I  supposed;  very  hot 
part  of  the  day.  One  man  of  the  48th  Illinois  fell  dead  while 
inarching,  and  eight  or  ten  in  our  regiment  badly  affected  by 
heat. 

Occoquan  Creek,  May  18,  1865. 

Another  day's  march.  Heavy  rain  and  thunder  storm  com- 
menced ten  minutes  before  our  wagons  got  in,  and  then  the 
wind  blew  so  hard  that  we  could  not  get  our  tent  up  for  an 
hour,  and  everybody  got  thoroughly  soaked. 

Near  Alexandria,  Va.,  May  19,  1865. 

Rained  all  night.  Reveille  at  2  p.  m.,  and  started  off  before 
daylight.  Men  waded  two  or  three  creeks  to  their  middles. 
March  miserably  conducted.  Passed  the  church  that  Wash- 


ARMY  LIFE  OF  AN  ILLINOIS  SOLDIER.  383 

ington  attended,  built  in  1783.  It  has  nearly  all,  except  roof 
and  walls,  been  carried  away  by  relic  maniacs.  Our  division 
marched  through  Mt.  Vernon  by  the  vault  and  residence. 

Thus  closes  this  diary  of  one  of  the  most  memorable  year's 
campaigns  in  the  history  of  modern  times. 

We  remained  in  camp  between  Alexandria  and  Arlington 
until  the  23d,  when  we  crossed  the  Potomac  river,  of  which 
we  had  heard  so  much,  and  the  next  day  (the  24th),  parti- 
cipated in  the  Grand  Review  of  the  Grandest  Army  that  ever 
was  created. 

FINALE 


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